Past Watch Site

In the heart of Cochabamba, Bolivia’s third-largest city, the dome of the Convento-Museo Santa Teresa rises above the surrounding tile roofs. Nestled in a valley of the Andes and known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its year-round temperate weather, Cochabamba and its environs were settled over 1,000 years ago. The Convento Santa Teresa was designed and constructed by architect Pedro Nogales and engineer Martinez Caceres in 1760, 36 years after Salvador Crespo and his wife, Melchora Macías de la Fuardia, donated the garden on which the convent would later be built.

Conceived and executed in the baroque style, the circular dome, ample natural light highlighting religious paintings, and interior decorative elements covering the walls well represent the architect’s vision and purpose. A cloister encloses a small garden with numerous arches on both levels providing light to the interior spaces.

Government interest in expropriating the property has prompted action on the part of the religious community to demonstrate the sustainability of the institution and the edifice, which is facing significant maintenance challenges. Through the efforts of a resourceful nun, a proposal is at hand to conserve the convent through a much-needed training program for the local community, but funding is still lacking.

UPDATE

Since Watch listing, the convent has received a grant of €80,000 to develop a conservation training program on site from the Italo-Latin American Institute (IILA). July 2010