The oldest convent: Santo Domingo was conceived along with the city foundation, but its founder was not Pizarro; it was a friar named Tomas de San Martin, later to become Preceptor Prior of the Dominican Order.

In 1730 the greater or "general" hall was built; a work of art later to form one of the city's more unified ornamental groups. Across its walls stretches a severe pad of shingles alternating with "ménsulas" (consoles) and veneer conches in the vanes. The setting is complemented by beautiful carved furniture and the polychromes of a series of paintings of the Cusco School portraying the life of Santo Tomas de Aquino.

As in all convents, Santo Domingo - located between 'jirones' Lima and Camana - is a sort of city inside the city; and it comprises a succession of cloisters and yards which are surrounded by service areas and communal rooms.

Best Tours including a Santo Domingo Convent sighting:

• Total Peru - 21 days.
• Extreme Adrenalin in Peru - 19 days.
• From the Andes to the Rainforest - 16 days.
• Peru's Mystic Experience - 15 days.
• Royal Tour - 14 days.
• Machu Picchu & the Amazon - 12 days.
• Machu Picchu, Nasca & Titicaca - 12 days.
• Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - 10 days.
• Machu Picchu & Titicaca Lake - 10 days.
• Machu Picchu & Rainforest - 10 days.
• Machu Picchu & Nasca Lines - 10 days.
• Peru for couples - 10 days.
• Cusco & Machu Picchu - 7 days.
• Honeymoon in Machu Picchu - 7 days.

More information:

• The city of kings (newsletter article).