Iglesia Santa Mónica is one of the smaller colonial churches in Sucre but worth ducking into for its tranquil courtyard and a baroque altarpiece in dark walnut and gold leaf. It was founded in 1574, making it among the oldest in the city. The Augustinians built it as part of a wider monastery complex; only the church and the patio survive in their original form, with later buildings clustered around them.
The interior is small and dim, with cool whitewashed walls and a wood-beamed ceiling. Lay flowers and a few flickering candles around the main altar give it the air of a working parish, which it remains. It is rarely included on the standard tourist circuit but pleases anyone who pushes the door open while walking Calle Nicolás Ortiz.