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Convent · Potosí, Potosí
Convent of Saint Teresa
Carmelite convent founded in 1685, with a colonial art museum in the old rooms and cloisters, showing the life of cloistered nuns, daughters of Potosí's wealthy families.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Convent of Saint Teresa
The Convent of Santa Teresa is a few blocks south of the Plaza 10 de Noviembre and was founded in 1685 by the Discalced Carmelites. As in other colonial convents, the nuns came from the city's wealthy families, and tradition required the second daughter to enter religious life with a dowry. A small community of nuns still lives in part of the convent.
The guided tour goes through the cloisters, the refectory, the cells and the church, with the grille through which the cloistered nuns attended mass unseen. The museum gathers paintings of the Potosí school, including works by Melchor Pérez de Holguín, sculptures, furniture, silver objects and everyday utensils of the nuns, such as instruments of penance.
One of the rooms shows the turnstile, the revolving wheel through which the nuns received and delivered objects without contact with the outside world, and where, according to tradition, babies left at the door also arrived. The inner gardens have fruit trees and flowers.
Outside, the street in front of the convent overlooks the Cerro Rico. The visit is guided, at fixed times; check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 1h30 to 2 hours on the guided tour.
Best time
In the afternoon, after the Casa Nacional de Moneda, or in the morning. Tours depart at fixed times; check before you go.
How to get there
It is on rua Santa Teresa, about 5 blocks from Plaza 10 de Noviembre, a 10-minute walk with a gentle uphill.
Tip
Take the guided tour, which tells the life of the nuns room by room. On exiting, look toward the end of the street: Cerro Rico appears straight ahead.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Convent of Saint Teresa
Are there still nuns at the Convento de Santa Teresa?
Yes, a small community of Carmelites lives in a part of the convent, closed to visitors.
What can you see in the museum?
Colonial painting from the Potosí school, sculptures, silver objects and utensils from the cloistered nuns' daily life.
Is the visit guided?
Yes, at fixed times. Check before you go.