Belmond Hotel Monasterio facts for kids

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The Belmond Hotel Monasterio is a beautiful five-star hotel located in Cusco, Peru. What makes it unique is that it used to be an old school for priests, called a seminary, built in the 1600s. This building has a fancy Baroque style and was even constructed on top of ancient Inca foundations. You can find it just a short walk from Cusco's main square, the Plaza de Armas.

History of the Monasterio Hotel

From Seminary to Hotel

The building that is now the Belmond Hotel Monasterio has a long and interesting history. It started as a special school for young men who wanted to become priests.

Building a Seminary in Cusco

Back in 1598, a bishop named Antonio de Raya y Navarrete decided to open a school called the Colegio Seminario de San Antonio Abad. This was done to follow new rules from the Council of Trent about training church leaders. The bishop asked the Jesuits, a group of priests, to run the school. Its main goal was to train young men, especially the sons of poor conquistadores (Spanish explorers), to serve the Church.

Built on Inca Foundations

Interestingly, this seminary was built right on top of the old palace of the Sapa Inca Túpac Amaru. This shows how new Spanish buildings often used the foundations of older Inca structures.

Earthquake and Reconstruction

In 1650, a big earthquake hit Cusco and damaged the building. When it was rebuilt, a beautiful chapel was added in the Baroque style.

Moving to a New Location

Many years later, in the mid-1900s, the Jesuits got help from Cardinal Richard Cushing from Boston to build a brand new seminary. The school moved to this new, modern building in 1965.

The Hotel's Beginning

After the seminary moved, the old buildings were bought and changed into the amazing hotel we see today.

A Protected Landmark

The Hotel Monasterio is considered a very important historical place in Peru. It is protected by the country's National Institute of Culture. You can still see original Spanish coats of arms carved into the stones around the entrance doors. Inside, there's even a portrait of an 18th-century bishop named José Manuel de Sarricolea y Olea. The old chapel, which is now part of the hotel, still has old paintings and gold-plated frames.

Unique Features and Renovation

In the middle of the hotel, there's a lovely courtyard with a fountain and a very old cedar tree that is over 300 years old! The hotel also has several restaurants and a bar that serve delicious Peruvian food. These include El Tupay Restaurant, Illariy Restaurant, Deli Monasterio, and the Lobby Bar.

The hotel officially opened in 1995 after a lot of restoration work. A Peruvian businessman named Lorenzo Sousa helped make this happen. He is known for bringing luxury tourism to places like Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Innovations and New Management

The Hotel Monasterio has been updated several times to keep its rooms and common areas modern. It was actually the first hotel in the area to offer oxygen in its rooms. This helps guests feel better when they arrive in Cusco, which is at a very high altitude.

In 1999, a company called Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. started managing the hotel. Later, in 2014, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. changed its name to Belmond Ltd., and so the hotel became the Belmond Hotel Monasterio.

Images for kids

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  The Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Cusco.

See also

In Spanish: Belmond Hotel Monasterio para niños