Convento de los Descalzos, 16th-century Franciscan convent in Rímac, Peru
Convento de los Descalzos is a 16th-century Franciscan convent in Rímac that adapts to the slope of San Cristóbal Hill. The building spans multiple levels with interlocking rooms that follow the natural terrain, and today houses a museum displaying religious artworks.
Founded in 1595, the convent began as a retreat set among fields and vineyards at Lima's outskirts. It became an important center for religious and intellectual life during the colonial period, shaping the spiritual landscape of the city.
The convent displays religious paintings from major art centers of the Andes, showing how spiritual imagery was created and shared across different cities. Visitors can observe how these works reveal the artistic traditions that developed in colonial religious communities.
The museum is arranged across several exhibition rooms distributed throughout the convent grounds, taking advantage of the natural slope. Comfortable shoes are recommended, as the visit involves stairs and uneven floors that follow the terrain.
The convent preserves an old apothecary with historical medical equipment, showing how monks produced traditional remedies. A wine cellar with large wooden barrels from colonial times reveals that the community also made and traded agricultural products.
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