Basilica y Monasterio de Santo Domingo, Lima Region, Peru

5traveldoc 5:00 PM Jan 30, 2022

OMG this was spectacular
We did the tour first and had an English speaking guide. He showed us the bell tower - where you can see all over Lima. Then he showed us the tombs of Saint Rose of Lima and St Martin de Porres. GREAT people filled with love and high regard for the poor. The photo of the church from the tour (second floor) was one of the most "liked" pictures I have ever posted on Facebook. After the tour, we attended 7pm mass Saturday night which we loved (even though it was in Spanish).

41234texas 5:00 PM Feb 21, 2020

Special place that is filled with history and beaurty
We were most impressed with the front facade of the main monastery building--big and beautiful. It captures your attention with nice design and size. There is a great deal of archaeological work going on in the front courtyard/square. They have been uncovering the ancient cobblestone roads that were the first in Lima. The workmanship on them is really impressive for the time. As for the monastery (which still has a small staff of monks--none of whom are to be seen on the property and who reside in private chambers) there is a great deal to see. At one time, there were over 250 monks and the support structures for that many monks are extremely impressive. The "meeting hall" with the great ceiling and paintings is testimony as to the past wealth of the Catholic Church in Peru. Because the building has been hit by a number of earthquakes, you can see damage to many areas, artifacts and the structure itself. However, the incredible interlocking wood ceiling (all built without nails) is a sight to behold. It is held in place by pressure of the individual pieces on each other and the hand cut tongue and groves well hidden from view. The catacombs are one of the reason many people visit the monastery. They are very interesting and have a great deal of history wrapped up in them. It has not been all that long ago that wealthy church members could still be buried under the sanctuary. I was expecting a more elaborate burial site, but this one is mostly pits with recently "art directed" bones placed in areas to capture your attention is a macabre sort of way. I will spare you the details of the how the bodies and subsequent remains were dealt with, but it is interesting... The chambers are deep beneath the structure, and it is a very tight space to navigate with minimal light. The old brick and stone work is impressive and has held up well against the earthquakes. The sanctuary is attractive, but not spectacular when compared to others. The old dome is really an interesting sight that is not to be missed. We liked this stop and the surrounding area has a number of sights to see. The Presidential palace is close by, and a very nice plaza is in front of it. There is a great deal of security (many armed with AK 47s) and some in SWAT gear that can be a little disturbing, but you will get over it. This is a sight well worth your time.