See

Monasterio de la Recoleta

The Franciscan monastery was built in 1648, and distinguished by its high bell tower in red and white bricks. Four out of the original seven buildings of the monastery remain today. The monastery has a library with about 20,000 volumes and part of the monastery is a museum with Incan and pre-Incan artifacts from mummies and totems to paintings of emperors. The museum also displays apparel worn by Amazonian natives.

Address: Recoleta 117
Getting there: on the western shore of Rio Chili

Directions Suggest a nearby place

Listing from Wikivoyage: Arequipa, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

Close by

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Puente Bolognesi
Arequipa has beautiful bridges. The closest to the main square is Puente Bolognesi. Go there and visit the Tambos (ancient houses rebuilt by the city government and used as apartments). A great experience.
Eat
Eco Brunch
Serves brunch with good portions of fruit.
Daily 08:30-19:30S/10-20
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el buda profano
Vegan sushi bar tucked in behind the Monasterio de Santa Catalina. Enjoyed by vegans, vegetarians, pescetarians and carnivores alike.
Open now · closes 9 pmS/20
See
Monasterio de Santa Catalina
Santa Catalina Convent
The most visited building from the Spanish era of the city. Described as a city within a city, this beautiful place with its colors, flowers and little streets will make you feel like you are back in time. Quite close to the Plaza de Armas. The guides speak many different languages; ask at the desk to the left after the entrance. The guide will tell you about the history of the convent and the life of the nuns in the convent. You can also do the tour by yourself at your own pace: there are helpful descriptive signs in Spanish and English in all the rooms that contain mostly the same information.
Daily 09:00-18:00 (Tue until 19:30), closed Good Fri, Dec 25 and Jan 1S/45, foreign students up to 21 S/25, other discounts only for Peruvians. An optional one-hour guided tour costs S/20 per person