Templo de Santa Clara, Gothic Catholic church in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
The Templo de Santa Clara is a church with a single nave, pointed arch windows, and a distinctive lateral tower topped with a spire, built between 1912 and 1918. Four large windows flood the interior with natural light, and visitors enter through a side entrance framed by a pointed arch doorway.
An original convent was founded in 1648 in Villa de Oropeza as a home for the Poor Clare sisters. The current structure was designed by engineer Julio Knaudt and completed between 1912 and 1918.
The convent has been home to the Poor Clare sisters since its establishment, and their daily presence shapes the spiritual rhythm of the city. Religious services and prayers form the heartbeat of this place, connecting the local community to centuries of monastic tradition.
Enter through the side entrance marked by the pointed arch doorway, keeping in mind that this is an active convent where silence and respect are observed. Plan your visit outside prayer times to avoid disrupting the daily spiritual practices of the sisters living there.
A hidden architectural feature is the high choir area with a lattice screen that allows the nuns to participate in services while remaining out of public view. This design element reflects the tradition of monastic enclosure that has shaped the sisters' way of life.
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