8 October 2011
The Lima Cathedral at Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor) on the right. The wooden balconies on the left are part of the Palace of the Archbishop.
Piura Passage. The old post office is now used for other things.
The Order of Santo Domingo was designated by Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Construction of the convent carried over into the 1600's.
There are still about 15 monks that carry out their lives on the upper level.
What once was the dining room is now the library with over 25,000 books dating back to the early 1600's.
This hymnbook is over 3 feet tall. The pages are said to be made of lambs skin, thus the fine preservation in Lima's humid climate. The notes and words had to be large...
so that the priests could see it as they sat in their choir seats 15 to 20 feet away.
The Iglesia de Santo Domingo is the burial place of Santa Rosa de Lima, patron saint for all of South America, the Philipines and the National Peruvian Police Force.
She had planned on being a nun but quickly decided she could do more good in helping others if she was out with the people.
She died in 1617 at the age of 31.
Her simple resting place.
I was surprised that there was no alter near her crypt.
I think the simpleness was indicitive of her sincerity and humility. She was canonized in 1671.
The rear courtyard leading to the chapel of San Martin, another local that became a Saint.
Because he was of mixed color, Martin de Porras was not allowed to become a priest. Nevertheless, he was dedicated to the Dominican Order and served as barbar and doctor and slept under the stairs. Because of his miraculous healings he was canonized 3 centuries later...
and the infirmary where he worked his entire life was converted into this chapel, now containing his crypt.
Stairs to the choir loft and rear of the chapel.
I love the accoustics in these old churches.
It is amazing how beautiful simplicity can be.
The strong Moorish influence of the 1600's is obvious.
The entire ceiling is made up of thousands of pieces of wood brought from Guatemala and assembled without nails or glue. Surprisingly, it has survived many earthquakes without damage.
Around the corner from the convent is the Basilica of the Veracruz.
a "place of prayer and not of conversation".
Even though old ...
and abandoned...
Santa Claus still comes to your house.
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