Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, Lima facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Basílica Menor y Convento Máximo de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Complete view of the basilica and convent
12°02′38″S 77°01′55″W / 12.0440°S 77.0319°W / -12.0440; -77.0319
Location	Lima
Country	Peru
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Membership	Dominican Order
History
Founded	1530s
Relics held	Tombs of St. Martin de Porres, St. Rose of Lima and St. John Macias
Architecture
Architect(s)	Manuel d'Amat i de Junyent, Diego Maroto, Juan Martínez de Arrona, Miguel Güelles and Juan de Uceda
Style	Rococo and Mudéjar
Completed	1766

The Basilica and Maximus Convent of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, often called the Convent of Santo Domingo, is a large Catholic building in Lima, Peru. It was built in the 1530s and is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.

This historic place is in the Historic Centre of Lima. It holds the remains of famous saints like St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres. Also, the University of San Marcos, the oldest university in the Americas, started here in the 1500s.

History of the Convent

Monk holding clapper of bell in the belfry of the Basilica of Santo Domingo, circa 1923

Building the Convent of Santo Domingo took about 50 years. Work began when Lima was founded and finished by the late 16th century. Friar Tomás de San Martín started the first church. Later, Friar Sebastián de Ayllón got help from the King to finish it in 1578.

An earthquake in 1678 completely destroyed the first building. A new church was built by the Dominican architect Diego Maroto. The convent was also rebuilt. It used to have six cloisters and many courtyards before another earthquake in 1687. The church was rebuilt to be wider and simpler. Builders used adobe, brick, and calicanto (a mix of stone and mortar). They also used quincha (a light, flexible material) to make the building stronger against earthquakes.

More earthquakes in 1687 and 1746 caused more changes. The bell tower, the main entrance, and parts of the convent had to be rebuilt. This changed how the cloisters looked, which you can still see today.

The church became a Minor Basilica in 1930. An earthquake in 1940 damaged it again, but it was restored.

Exploring the Church

Outside the Church

The outside of the church once had a rough stone finish called bossage. You can still see this at the bottom of the bell tower. The original entrance was carved in the mid-17th century. Later, a new entrance was built after earthquakes damaged the church.

The church was repaired after the 1940 earthquake. During this repair, cement was used on the walls.

The Bell Tower

Cloister and bell tower

The first bell tower was built in the Baroque style in the mid-17th century. It was designed by Diego Maroto. However, it was destroyed by the earthquake on October 28, 1746.

The current bell tower was designed in 1766 by Viceroy Manuel de Amat y Junyent. It is in the Rococo style. The bottom part is octagonal. It has two tall sections with small balconies. At the very top, there is a sculpture of an angel holding a trumpet. This angel represents the angel announcing the Final Judgment. The tower is 46 meters tall. It is one of the most famous parts of the church complex. The base of the bell tower still shows the original rough stone finish. Its original colors were white and pink.

Inside the Church

The church has a main nave (the central part) with a ribbed ceiling. It also has two side naves with connected chapels. Here you can find a side entrance to the church and the way to the main cloister of the convent. The main nave has another entrance at the front, which leads to the narthex. This was a space where religious lessons were given to people who were not yet baptized. Above the narthex is the church's high choir.

The Choir

The church's choir has what is believed to be the oldest wooden carvings in Peru. It is made entirely of cedar wood from Nicaragua. The style is Renaissance with some Mannerist elements.

It has two rows of seats. The front row was carved more recently, based on the old design. The original carvings are in the back. They show saints and other Bible characters. In the middle of the carvings is the main seat for the prior (leader) of the convent. It has carvings of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis of Assisi. These were the founders of the Dominicans and the Franciscans. Several artists worked on the choir seats, including Juan Martínez de Arrona.

The Nave and Chapels

Chapel

Altarpiece and apse

The church has three main sections called naves. The side naves have chapels with many beautiful altarpieces (reredos). On the left side, you can find altarpieces for St. Hyacinth of Poland, Saint Joseph, Saint Dominic, and Our Lady of the Rosary. On the right side, there are altarpieces for the Peruvian Saints, the Souls, St. Thomas Aquinas, the Sacred Heart, the Chapel of the Lord of Justice, and the Chapel of the Co-fraternity of the Rosary.

The most important altarpiece is the one for the Peruvian Saints. It is in the neoclassical style. In the center is St. Rose of Lima. To her left is St. Martin de Porres, and to her right is St. John Macias. Although St. John Macias was born in Spain, he is considered Peruvian because he lived his religious life in Lima. Below these statues are special containers (reliquaries) holding the remains of each saint. At the bottom of the altar is a sculpture of St. Rose of Lima. It was made by the Maltese artist Melchor Caffá in 1669. Pope Clement IX had it made for the Dominican fathers when St. Rose was declared a saint.

On the left side of the church is an altarpiece dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. She is the patroness of Lima and the church's namesake. This altarpiece is also in the neoclassical style. It holds a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was the first of its kind in Peru. People believe King Charles V gave it to Lima. St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres especially honored this statue. It was crowned in a special ceremony in 1927.

The Altar Area

The main altar is in the neoclassical style. It is decorated with turquoise and gold colors.

The Convent Buildings

The Chapter House

The chapter house in the 1920s and at the present.

This room is called the Chapter House because the friars would gather here for "chapters." In these meetings, they would choose their leaders and solve problems. The room was built in the 17th century in the Baroque style by Friar Diego Maroto. In 1551, the University of San Marcos officially started in this very room. The special platform or pulpit (chatedra) in the room was used in the 17th century for teaching classes or defending academic papers. It has twisted columns and a painting of St. Thomas Aquinas. In front of it is a small altarpiece with the Christ of Agony. It is said that St. Martin de Porres would become deeply spiritual and embrace this statue.

The Guest Room

Artesonado dated to 1580 in the guest room

This is where the fathers would welcome important visitors and family members. The most special part of this room is its artesonado ceiling. It was built in 1580 using three thousand pieces of wood. These pieces fit together tightly without any nails. The National Anthem of Peru was composed here by José Bernardo Alcedo.

The Main Cloister

This cloister has four walkways. They are decorated with beautiful Sevillian tiles from 1604 and 1606. The paintings on the walls show scenes from the life of Saint Dominic, who founded the Dominican order. These paintings were ordered in 1608 from artists in Seville, Spain. At each corner of the cloister, there is an altarpiece with Bible stories. The walkways have artesonado ceilings carved from oak wood from Panama. The cloister also has a bronze holy water font. It is famous because, according to writer Ricardo Palma, St. Martin de Porres once washed brown sugar bread here, and it turned white.

The Library

The important library and one of its incunable books.

The library is a very important place to visit. Not only are the books valuable, but the carved ceilings are also amazing. This room holds the oldest books used by the Dominicans, including very early printed books called incunables. The convent's library has about 25,000 books, many of which are very rare and important. It is now located in what used to be the dining room.

Chapel of St. Martin de Porres

Lateral nave where the remains of St. Rose of Lima, St. Martin de Porres and St. John Macias rest.

This chapel is built where St. Martin de Porres had his living cell. His cell was destroyed by the 1746 earthquake. Thanks to donations, a chapel was built where he also had his nursery. It has an altar with a statue of St. Martin de Porres. On its sides are statues of Saint Dominic and St. Francis of Assisi. Above them is the Virgin of the Rosary. St. Martin's remains are buried here. There is also an urn holding pieces of wood from his bed. Paintings on the walls show the miracles St. Martin performed. His old bedroom is behind the chapel. You can also see his Oratory, a small space under the stairs where St. Martin often prayed. Today, many gifts from his followers are displayed here. At the top, a wooden cross reminds visitors that St. Martin fought against temptations in this spot.

Tomb of St. Rose of Lima

This tomb is in what used to be an old cemetery. The first religious members of the order were buried here. There was a deep pit where old bones were placed. The marble tomb of St. Rose of Lima is in the center of this area. It is decorated with mosaics. A plaque reads: "Hago donación de mi cuerpo a mis hermanos Dominicos" (I donate my body to my Dominican brothers). This shows her thanks for being part of the Dominican Order.

Colegio de Santo Tomás de Aquino

The school in 2016.

In 1892, the Dominican Order opened the Colegio Santo Tomás de Aquino (St. Thomas Aquinas College). It is right next to the Santo Domingo convent in Lima. Today, 125 years later, the school is still in the same place. It even has a direct entrance from its main courtyard to the convent.

This was the first and only school in Lima founded by the Dominican fathers. Friar Jordán Revilla was its first director. The school's history is closely tied to the city's history. The street next to the school, Jirón Camaná, has the Lima Post Office and the Santo Domingo Church. Behind the school, on Calle Conde de Superunda, was the old Post and Telegraphs Office, which is now a Museum of Gastronomy.

The cloisters of the Santo Domingo Convent are connected to the school by a door. They are also important to Peru's education history. The National University of San Marcos (UNMSM), the oldest university in the Americas, held its first classes here in 1535. The front of the Santo Tomás de Aquino school has seen many changes in the city. Years ago, there was a parking lot in front of the school. Later, street vendors took over the space, forming a market called Polvos Azules.

In 1997, this market was moved, and the area became the Alameda Chabuca Granda park. Another recent change near the school was the building of the Rayitos de Sol Bridge. This bridge connects the Chabuca Granda mall to the Santa Rosa area on the Vía de Evitamiento road. Today, a new road is being built under the Rímac River, across from the school.

The Colegio Santo Tomás de Aquino has also changed over time. For more than 100 years, it was only for boys. But since 1994, girls have also been accepted, making it a mixed school. Also, since 2010, Inés Rossi Rossi has been the director. This was a big moment for the school, as before her, only Dominican priests had been directors.

The Plazuela

The square in 2017.

The Plazuela de Santo Domingo is a small square across the street from the convent. It is one of the oldest squares in Lima. It was once the home of María Alvarado, who came to Lima with Pedro de Alvarado's group. She was a widow who later married Captain Francisco de Chávez. He died during an attack on the Casa de Pizarro. She then married Captain Pedro Portocarrero. It is also said that Blasco Núñez Vela, the first Viceroy of Peru, was held prisoner here. The Dominicans bought the land, claiming it was theirs. They later sold it to the Cabildo of Lima (city council) for 1,000 pesos.

After the War of the Pacific, the Hotel de Francia e Inglaterra was built in the area. The square now has a modern look with boxed balconies. Since 1984, there has been a small bronze statue by Humberto Hoyos Guevara. It is dedicated to the shoeshiners who often work there. Another statue honors Augusto Pérez Araníbar.

Renovation work on the square began in 2022.

Images for kids

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  The bell tower of the Basilica of Santo Domingo in 1874.

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  The bell tower of the Basilica of Santo Domingo in 1902.