The colonial wing of the Santa Teresa was built as a convent for the Carmelita nuns in the 17th century. During its history, it also served as a prison, a girls’ school and a police department. After an extensive renovation in the 1980s, it and a Republican-style wing were converted into a boutique hotel. The Charleston Santa Teresa, located on Plaza de Santa Teresa, now offers five-star, luxury accommodations in the heart of Old Town.