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Basilica y Monasterio de Santo Domingo

Basilica y Monasterio de Santo Domingo

Basilica y Monasterio de Santo Domingo
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Built by Dominican friars in 1549, this Church and Monastery contains the tombs of Santa Martin de Porres and Peru's other famous saint, Santa Rosa de Lima.
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The area

Address
Neighborhood: Cercado de Lima
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,437 reviews
Excellent
772
Very good
543
Average
108
Poor
6
Terrible
8

traveldoc
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI683 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2022
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).
Written January 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Russell3939
Castle Rock, CO1,024 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
The nice part about this convent was this was a self led tour and you could take pictures. At the convent of San Francisco down the street you had to be part of a tour and were not allowed to take pictures. The cloisters were pretty areas for sure.
Written July 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Greenvilledan
Greenville, TX1,640 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Couples
Inside the monastery is a beautiful courtyard. There is a large fountain in the middle of a square of moorish influenced arches and Spanish tiles imported from Seville Spain.

Very impressive! It is as if you are transported to Seville. The architecture and tile are gorgeous and were installed in 1606.

The monastery also has an incredible library with over 20,000 volumes of books. It reminds me of the library of Trinity University in Ireland. Well worth seeing .

The monastery also includes the tomb of Saint Maria the first saint of the Americas. It is underneath a conference room and you can visit it by going down very narrow/short stairs.
Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

1234texas
Seabrook, TX5,272 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
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.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pjo-nyc
New York, NY36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Friends
An important and historical religious site, the resting place of Saint Rose of Lima, the first person canonized who was born in the New World, and Saint Martin de Porress, the illegitimate son of a Spanish Nobleman and a freed slave who was the first person of color to be canonized. It is also where the oldest University in the Americas was founded, the University of San Marcos, in 1551. Highlights here are the Cloisters, the Crypt and the impressive library with its beautiful carved oak ceiling. One can just imagine the old Friars back in the day coming in here to find a quiet corner to bury their noses in a musty old Balzac for the afternoon.
Written August 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mikesierra
Bourne, UK1,985 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
Well worth about 30 minutes here for the 10 Sol (3 USD) entry fee. It is home to the remains of 3 Peruvian Saints and is set in beautiful cloisters and chapels. Pick up a single sheet guide in English, which shows the areas to visit. It’s just off the Plaza de Armas so include in your visit to this area. Very clean toilet facilities too!
Written April 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nancy K
Fort Myers, FL342 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019
From the courtyard entrance to the ornate library to the catacombs, this monastery has it all! Typical Spanish architecture with European influence. Lots of walking inside but few steps.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

NJTravellingfool
Ridgewood, NJ698 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2016 • Friends
We stopped at the Monastery again on our second visit to Lima. It is right near the main square and has a very subdued exterior. The interior however has a richness of detail. As you enter the grounds, you pass into a large entry room which set the tone of the visit having rich woods, leather, high ceilings and grand paintings. The courtyard is of particular note not because of its central garden and archways around the interior. It also has an amazing collection of different tiles along the wall mostly of spanish / moorish design and frescos as well. There are many rooms including a library which is unique as well as open to the public to see but not touch.
Written August 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

stanlion2014
New York City, NY79 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2016
The Convento (or monastery) of Santo Domingo is the one I chose to see of all the churches that cluster downtown Lima. Mainly because of the story of St Martin de Porres, a local who attended the poor and the sick during his time. There is a guided tour that comes with admission of S/.7 but I chose to walk around on my own to admire the variety of designs on the tiles that cover the walls and pillars and even the floors of the cloisters. There are two: one in Sevillian style (tiles from Spain) but the Moorish influence from the mother country are present in the second cloister which has a distinct arabic feel with palm trees and arches. Here are laid to rest the remains of St Martin and also of St Rose who is the patron saint of the City.
Written February 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tiffany B
Santa Fe, NM5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2014 • Solo
This was a beautiful convent to visit. You may take an hour long tour and visit both areas where the sainted are entombed. The walls of the convent in the courtyard are filled with the tiles brought over from Spain centuries ago. The are very beautiful.

It was very moving to be near the saints and learn their histories.

Do not miss this shrine in their honor and the beautiful convent.
Written July 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Basilica y Monasterio de Santo Domingo, Lima

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