We had lunch at a restaurant in the arcades that surround the central plaza.
Got a glimpse of the university's magnificent library.
We were attracted by Las Rosas, a music conservatory, temple (church) and garden. The Domincan sisters established the complex in the mid-1700s as a convent school for girls.
Not having done our homework, we almost walked away after viewing the conservatory without visiting the church. What a loss that would have been! When we stepped inside it literally took our breath away. Three sides of the church consist of gold altarpieces.
The church entrance is at the side. The rear of the chapel has a gold grill that was used to separate the nuns and their students from the rest of the congregation.
Wow! So many interesting contrasting or conflicting ideas - IWD and a convent school, so much gold in such a poor country, such a magnificent library where higher education is maybe not so common... but at least some cafes to sit and contemplate and/or debate those ideas!
ReplyDelete