Convent of Santo Domingo

Located on the corner of 25 de Mayo and Urquiza streets
Tel. 085-212941
Open Mondays through Sundays from 8 to 12:30a.m. and from 5 to 8p.m.

This convent harbors a unique treasure in America, namely, the sacred relic of the Holy Sheet, a true reproduction of the Holy Shroud that was wrapped around the body of Christ after His Crucifixion and bears the image of the Lord. Because of its detailed resemblance to the original, it is the second sheet of its kind in the world together with the one kept in Turin. In 1532, the members of St. Clares Franciscan order of nuns were entrusted with its care, so they laid it between two pieces of cloth and placed it in a coffer.
Some time later, in 1578, the image on the original shroud was found to have become imprinted on the other two pieces of cloth, with the difference that the image on the new cloths was a positive image while the original shroud bore a negative image. The Pope gave one of these reproductions to the King and Queen of Spain who sent it to Santiago del Estero under the custody of the Jesuits. When the Jesuits were expelled from America, the Dominican friars took over the convent and the protection of the relic.

Santiago del Estero
This is the oldest surviving city founded by the Spaniards. It is located on the river Dulce, 1,042km. away from the city of Buenos Aires, on national route No. 9 and 187m. above sea level. In addition to its museums, one can also visit its cathedral, the first diocese in the country dating back to 1876, Libertad Park, Aguirre Park, the Convent of Santo Domingo where the Holy Sheet is exhibited, and the Church of La Merced.