In July 1665, several brothers of the order of barefoot Carmelites stopped in Arequipa. They were sent to Bolivia, to establish a monastery. But authorities and residents of the city, expressed a desire to leave the monks, made a request for a permit to build the Church and the Carmelite monastery in Arequipa. In 1684 he published the Royal decree authorizing the construction, and in 1701 was licensed Viceroy and laid the first stone of the future monastery.

To complete the construction and management of a new monastery in 1710 from Cusco were assigned to three sisters. Opening and consecration of the Church and monastery was accompanied by the procession, which was attended by Carmelite monks and nuns, representatives of the authorities and the population of Arequipa.

Initially, the monastery was a small room with cells, the temple and a large garden. In the colonial era and subsequent years, the monastery continued to grow and expand.

After the earthquake in June 2001, the building of the temple and monastery were severely damaged. For restoration work lacked its own funds, so we had to open part of the monastery for the public to share rich artistic heritage, gathered at the monastery for 300 years of its existence. So, in 2005 in the walls of the monastery opened a Museum of sacred art Santa Teresa. In its 12 exhibition halls you can see more than 300 unique works of art, including paintings of the Cuzco school, sculpture and jewelry on religious themes, as well as objects of everyday life of the colonial era in the stands with constant monitoring of temperature and humidity.

At the beginning of the tour through the Museum you pass through the alley of the flowers and the lovely internal patio with fountain of Huamanga made of stone. Visit the monastic cells and get acquainted with the living conditions of the nuns, inspect administrative building, richly decorated in the Rococo style and the tower are four bells. In the afternoon you can be transported over a couple of centuries ago, when you hear the jingle bells and the melodious singing of the nuns in Latin, and Spanish. In the thematic exhibition halls of the Museum you can learn the history of the Carmelite order and the history of the monastery of Santa Teresa de Arequipa. At the conclusion of the visit you can taste sweets and cakes baked by the nuns according to old recipes, or buy handmade soap rose petal.