The Monasterio De Santa Catalina in Arequipa is like no other convent. Built in 1580, its high walls, hide a self contained citadel within the city, with pretty winding streets and beautiful courtyards.
Its growth was funded by the dowries of the nuns who lived there, traditionally the second daughter of Spanish families was expected to join the church. By joining Santa Catolina families were able to specify the living conditions of their daughters. Resulting in nuns living in comfortable houses, with the best furniture, music, art, parties and believe it or not, servants and even slaves!
At its peak, 450 women lived in the convent, only 1/3rd of which were nuns. The rest servants or refugees. In 1871 stories of the hedonistic convent reached Pope Pius IX who disapproved of the unnunlike behaviour and forced Santa Catalina to act like other convents. Communal living was now the norm. Furniture and finery were thrown out while the nuns got used to sleeping 100+ in dorms and taking a share in the chores.
Its growth was funded by the dowries of the nuns who lived there, traditionally the second daughter of Spanish families was expected to join the church. By joining Santa Catolina families were able to specify the living conditions of their daughters. Resulting in nuns living in comfortable houses, with the best furniture, music, art, parties and believe it or not, servants and even slaves!
At its peak, 450 women lived in the convent, only 1/3rd of which were nuns. The rest servants or refugees. In 1871 stories of the hedonistic convent reached Pope Pius IX who disapproved of the unnunlike behaviour and forced Santa Catalina to act like other convents. Communal living was now the norm. Furniture and finery were thrown out while the nuns got used to sleeping 100+ in dorms and taking a share in the chores.
Good old Pius IX...or 'Pio Nono' to his fellow Italians. He was the Pope during the tumultuous years of Italian Unification, my delightfully exciting AS level history topic...share the knowledge....
ReplyDeleteGlad to see the expensive education is proving worthwhile...
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