The secluded areas or retreat houses originated in Europe during the Renaissance as a response to the chaos generated within the Church, due to the Renaissance ideas that produced disputes, divisions and the loss of the monastic discipline. In 1583, in Toledo, a group of ecclesiastic clergy men met to search for a solution to this disorder and thus avoid the influence of these new prevailing ideas. Then, the retreat houses emerge in order to have the religious priests lead a more spiritual life, strengthening their interior life and reasserting their vocation through strict seclusion.

In Chile, once the Dominicans are installed in the current Santo Domingo Street, they were in charge of installing a strict religious observance house. However, that was only possible in 1750.

Along with the lands assigned to build their first Church in the closest sector to the Plaza Mayor, the Dominicans received two important donations in La Chimba. First, in 1557 Bartolomé Flores donates a farm house and then, in 1558, Rodrigo de Quiroga and his wife Inés de Suárez give them a large hacienda, managing to own land that included the current Cerro Blanco and the Chapel del Socorro (Church of La Viñita), whose limits towards the south were on Dominica Street, towards the north, it even included the General Cemetery, towards the east the skirts of the Saint Cristóbal Hill and towards the west the Camino Chile (currently Independencia Street).

In 1557, Fray Gil González was named “Vicario de la Nación” (Vicar of the Nation) in Chile and since his arrival to Chile fought with passion defending the indigenous people, which caused great difficulties with the government of the time which, punishing the monk, presented a series of impediments for the settlement of the Dominicans in these lands. When the donation was made, other owners appeared arguing the illegality of the donation and the occupation of such lands.

In 1558, the Cabildo annuls the donation and also adds that, it is of great detriment to the city to have the fourth part of the valley donated to a monastery. On facing this, Padre Gil recurs to the Royal Audience of Lima, which favors the Dominican Fathers, thus recovering the lost lands. Afterwards, the large lot of land is reduced by the sale and confiscation of the regular clergy property in 1824.

In 1750, the construction of the so-called Old Convent started, which was the first house of strict religious observance. The work is concluded by Padre Manuel Acuña, also building the old temple, formed by one nave. In addition, the library is formed, becoming a treasure of the Colonial time.

In 1853, due to the growth of the population the parishioners that attend the temple, the priests see the need to extend and beautify the church. In order to do so, they recur to Padre Andrés O’Brien, who was in Rome and that in turn entrusted Eusebio Chelli for the design of the new high altar.

That same year, Chelli arrives to Chile with the high altar and it is so wonderful that the Dominican Fathers think that the old temple is not dignified enough for such work and decide to entrust Chelli himself to build the new temple, inspired by the Roman Cathedral de San Pablo de Extramuros.

The construction was extended for 30 years and also had the participation of the Chilean architect Manuel Aldunate, who designed the dome and directed the work for 20 years. The temple comprises three naves, is carefully ornamented and has 60 Carrara marble columns that were brought from Italy and it was inaugurated in 1882.

In 1886 the old convent is demolished and in October that same year the current cloister is built and is concluded in 1890.