Iglesia de la Compañía

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Exterior view of the Iglesia de la Compañía in Arequipa, Peru.

This Jesuit church with a 1767 Churrigueresque facade is also called Espíritu Santo. Beneath the altar is a tomb said to be that of a 17th-century South Asian princess who was sold into slavery in Mexico and later freed.

She was supposedly responsible for the colorful china poblana costume – a shawl, frilled blouse, embroidered skirt and gold and silver adornments. This costume became a kind of "peasant chic" in the 19th century. But china (chee-nah) also meant "maidservant," and the style may have evolved from Spanish peasant costumes.

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