Established by sisters from Puebla, Mexico, Santa Clara was inaugurated in 1734, destroyed four decades later by the great quake and abandoned. Fortunately some elements of the original structure remain intact, such as the church's stonework facade, the arched niches along the nave that served as confessionals, and an underground chamber where provisions were stored.
Most captivating of all is the cloister, centering on a fountain bordered by gardens, though only one side of the upper-level arcade is still in place.
