Province of Arequipa
Main Square, city of Arequipa
Bordered by various arched walkways and the Cathedral, the Main Square possesses a beautiful bronze fountain of there plates crowned by the figure of sixteenth century soldier. Of this person, who is called “Tuturutu”, the story says he was in charge of warning of any new event. Around the square, you see three granite portals with brick and lime bases: Portal del Cabildo (Portal de la Municipalidad), Portal de las Delicias (Portal de San Agustin), and Portal del Regocijo (Portal de Flores).
Cathedral, city of Arequipa
It is considered one of the first seventeenth century religious monuments of the city. It is built of sillar (white volcanic stone) with a brick base. Destroyed by fire in 1844, it was rebuilt in 1868 by Arequipa architect Lucas Poblete. He used a neoclassical style and placed the entrances of church on the flanking naves. In 2001, the building was struck hard by an earthquake, which seriously damaged its towers.
The Church and Complex of the Company of Jesus Christ (Iglesia y Complejo de la Compañia de Jesus)
The complex, made up of buildings constructed by Jesuits for religious and living purposes, is a representative monument of the seventeenth century religious architecture (1660). The church itself rises from the center of the buildings. It was designed in 1576 by Gaspar Baez and destroyed bye an earthquakes in 1584. The current structure dates from 1650. Inside you find sixty-six canvases from the Cusco school from suck artists as Bernardo Bitti and Diego de la Puente.
Church and Complex of Saint Francis (Iglesia y complejo de San Francisco)
The complex contains the Saint Francis church, the convent and a smaller church known as La Tercera Orden (the third Franciscan Orden). What catches the attention inside the church is the bas-relief decorated baroque pulpit and the silver front of the main altar. Besides these, a short passageway, named Manguillo de Francisco, has been added to the complex to separate the church from what was the first girl school and later a women jail. Today, it has become a commercial art center known as “Fundo El Fierro” (Iron Ranch).
Saint Kathleen Monastery (Monasterio de Santa de Catalina)
Constructed to shelter the daughters of the wealthiest families of the city with a religious vocation, the monastery was inaugurated on October 2, 1580, under the name of Santa Catalina of Siena to be a totaly cloistered religious center, and it remained that way until August 15, 1970.
It occupies an approximate area of 20.000 m2 (215.285 feet2), and its placement is similar to the first neighborhoods of Arequipa.
The building exhibits rooms of very different architectural design. One of the areas has been established as a gallery to display the canvasses of the Cusco, Quito and Arequipa Schools. There are other rooms, or sectors, to visit as well, like el Claustro de la Porteria (the Gate Cloister), el museo Precolombino (the pre-colombian museum), el Claustro de San Francisco (the Cloister of Saint Francis), etc.
La Recoleta Covent (Covento de La Recoleta)
A Franciscan convent founded in 1848, open to the public since 1978. It feautures various style that include Romantic and Neo-gothic styles due to its different remodeling campaigns (the last one in 1940). It has four cloisters and eleven sectors, as well as two pre-Colombian art rooms, two others dedicated to the Amazon Rain Forest, and another to religious art. It also has a gallery exhibiting canvasses from the Cusco and Arequipa School and a valuable library that protects more than 20.000 volumes and ancient books.
Church and Complex of Santo Domingo (Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo)
Architecturally the church is characterized by a bell tower, its entrance with a corner pedestal, and its impeccable arch under the choir loft. Inside, one can appreciate paintings and other pieces of sacred art. It is also known for its side entrance being the oldest in Arequipa. The upper cloister of the convert was constructed around 1734.
Moral House (Casa del Moral)
An eighteenth century house, constituting one of the oldest and most important architectural monuments from the Arequipa Baroque period. The house owes its name to an ancient blackberry tree that grows in its main patio. Inside, furniture from Peru’s colonial and republican epochs is on display. The main entrance of white sillar stone is a work of art in which you can admire carefully carved figures. For example, there is a crown suspended above a coat of arms that is held up by two angels, the coat of arms is composed of tinier carvings of a castle, a bird, a puma, and two crossed keys. In the same way, the room of sixteenth century “antique” Maps of America stands out.
Saint Lazarus neighborhood (Barrio de San Lazaro)
This neighborhood of alleys, narrow passageways, small plazas, and large homes is the most representative of old Arequipa. This place was established by Dominican priests in 1538, who built a sanctuary to evangelize the natives of the area and prepare the land to found a new Spanish city. The small bridge that connects the Church of San Lazaro and its small plaza with the rest of the quarter is worth a visit.
Goyeneche House (Casa Goyeneche)
This sixteenth century house of white sillar stone is completely designed in the Colonial style. Prints from the Cusco and Arequipa Schools are preserved there as well as sculptures from the Granada Schools of the seventeenth century. The name comes from Mr. Juan de Goyeneche y Aguerreverre, who bought it in 1782. Presently, it is headquarters to he Central Reserve Bank of Peru in Arequipa.
Saint Augustine Church (Iglesia San Agustin)
Built in 1575, the church displays a façade that dates from first half of the eighteenth century and is considered one of the best of its time. In architectural terms, it belongs to the mixed-origin Baroque and the main construction material is white sillar stone. Inside, the main highlights are the dome, its Neoclassical altars, especially the major one, for the precise carvings and gilding.
Mercy Church (Iglesia de La Merced)
Its construction began in 1551 and was completed in 1607. It has an attractive side entrance, which features the image of the Virgin of Mercy accompanied by two saints of mercy. Important works of art like the “Aparición de las Virgenes a San Pedro Nolasco” (Saint Pedro Nolasco Recovering the image of the Virgin) are preserved in its sacristy as well as a series of paintings related to the Virgin de La Merced in the main hall. The church and the convent, the latter constructed in the city, were built using the white sillar stone from Arequipa. The cloister maintains a library that dates back to the Vice royal period.
Tristan del Pozo House (Casa Tristan del Pozo)
This traditional, colonial house has a façade carved in mixed-origin Baroque. In addition, it was made with wide, unique pations inside. It was built in 1738 for General Domingo Tristan del Pozo. Today, it is property of Bank Continental.
University of San Agustin Archeological Museum.
A varied collection is exhibited here including stone items, bones from human sacrifices, ceramic pieces from the Nazca, Tiahuanaco, Huari and Inca, and objects of gold and silver from the Colonial and Inca areas.
University of Santa Maria de Arequipa Archeological Museum
The museum has around 1000 pieces (ceramics, textiles, mummies, works of stone, wood and metal) from the different cultural groups that inhabited the Department of Arequipa from 12.00 B.C. up to the time of the colony: Nazca, Tiahuanaco, Wari, Churajon, Acari, Aruni and Inca as well as traditional and colonial materials.
University Catholic of Santa Maria Andean Shrines Andean Museum
Here, they exhibit la Dama de Ampato (the Lady of Ampato) and Inca mummy of a twelve to fourteen years old girl found at the top of the Ampato volcano by the climber Miguel Zarate, the archeologist Jose Chavez, and the anthropologist Johan Reinhard on September 8, 1995. According to the specialists, it is very likely that the girl, whose remains were found frozen, died from a blow to the temple from a five pointed granite mace. It seems that she was sacrificed to the Ampato Apu (protector god) some 500 years ago.
Santa Teresa Museum of Vice Royal Art
It is set up in one of the cloisters of the Santa Teresa Monastery that opened in 1710. In the museum, they exhibit one of the best collections of paintings, sculptures, works of fine metal, daily objects, and decorative art works in the country. One of the galleries, which still preserves its original furnishings and appearance, is the Chapter House, its walls are completely covered with a mural, painted in the XVIII century, which features one of a kind decorations that look like a tapestry with images of the profane embroidered into it. Moreover, the Lower Choir is covered with paintings from different epochs and trends.
Selva Alegre Suburb
Considered the “garden of the city” for its large parts and huge trees that live in harmony with modern houses of the area. Selva Alegre was constructed as a monument to Juan Vizcardo y Guzman, fore runner of the Peruvian independence. The Molino de Santa Catalina (Mill of Saint Kathleen) is another site to visit, completely restored and located on the mall of this zone.
Yanahuara Lookout
It was built in the nineteenth century and is composed of a series of sillar stone arches where the words of famous Arequipa citizens have been engrave. This spot is a wonderful view point of the city and Mount Misti Volcano.
City of Sabandia
Wide terraces and three volcanoes, the Misti, the Chachani and the Pichu Pichu, provide the scenery around this traditional town. Some of the houses still preserve characteristic styles of the Viceroyalty or of the nineteenth century Republicanism. A recreational area with two swimming pools that use the cold river waters of the surrounding region has been built.
Sabandia Mill (Molino de Sabandia)
Constructed in 1785, it represents the typical architecture of the zone where the use of sillar Stone predominates. It is characterized by solid supports and rustic balconies. Stone grinding wheel techniques for wheat processing can be viewed here as well.
Founder’s Mansion (Mansion del Fundador)
Built with sillar stone at the edge of a cliff, it is one of the most important and traditional mansions or houses in the department. According to the story, Garci Mnuel de Carbajal, founder of Arequipa, had it built for his son. Later in 1785, Mr. Juan Crisostomo de Goyeneche y Aguerreverre was its proprietors and remodeled it, giving it the distinguished characteristics that can be seen today. The main entrance is composed of a foyer with an arched ceiling, followed by a wide principal patio over which the windows and doors of the bedrooms open.
District of Cayma
The village of Cayma is known as the “Balcony of Arequipa” for its advantageous location that allows the entire city to be seen. Its central plaza houses the church of San Miguel Arcangel (Saint Michael the Archangel), built in 1730 and considered an architectural jewel because of its mixed façade. In the rectory annex, the “Comedor de Bolivar” (Bolivar’s dinning room) is preserved where, according to legend, the Liberators used to have lunch during their stay in the town.
Misti Volcano
The Misti volcano, 5825 masl / 19.111 fasl is the guardian of the city. From the summit, you can see the city of Arequipa, the Chili River valley and the Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.
Yura Hot Springs
These are wells of thermal waters at the foothills of the Chachani volcano, 2575 masl / 8448 fasl. The therapeutic properties of the waters, which temperature fluctuates between 23ºC (73.40ºF) and 28ºC (82.40ºF), are celebrated. Between 1810 and 1831, Mr. Jose Nogal y Noguerol built the wells that are still maintained today.
Sumbay Cuves – Rock Art
Located within the boundaries of the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve, this area boasts over 500 rocks art figures. These representations, possibly made by the first inhabitants of the area, are approximately 6000 to 8000 years old.
Mount Chachani
This snow covered peak, towering over 6075 masl / 19931 fasl is considered one of the most difficult mountains to climb in Peru. It is an inactive volcano, but lava is still visible and there are depressions and moraines. It takes two days and one night to ascend.
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District of Yarabamba
The name of the district comes from two Quechua words: “yaro” or “yara”, a native bush of the area and “bamba” which means pampas. Visiting the mansion of Arenas y Pinto and the colonial house of River y Echevarria are the things to do in the town.
District of Quequeña
This area has bee inhabited by the Lupacas, Anymaras, Quechuas, Collaguas, Puquinas and in the middle of the fifteenth century, the Incas. The name of the town probably comes from the Puquina word, “quequeña”, which means “rocky and solid place”. The main places of interest are la Alameda de los Sauces (Willows Walk), la Alameda de los Muertos (patch of Dead) and Guanaqueros Gorge. There is also a recently restored church to see.
District of Chiguata
Chiguata was founded on Juanuary 22, 1540, by the steward Diego Hernandez. The name of the city is a combination of two Quechua words, “chiri” (cold) and “guata” (year) and means “cold all year long”. Among the main attractions, you can visit the Iglesia del Espiritu Santo (Church of the Holy Spirit) and the archeological centers of Tambo de Leon and Infiernillos.
District of Tiabaya
The valley is completely agricultural and is believed to have been inhabited by ethnic groups of the Kuntis from Cabana, the Yanahuaras and the Chumbivilcas. On November 8, 1870, it was given the title of “city” and is famous for its rustic restaurants.
District of Characato
This town has plenty of vegetation and abundant water, so it is ideal for farming. Very close to the town is the “Ojo de Milagro” waterspring (Eye of Miracle Spring). There is also a beautiful colonial church. Historically, the inhanitants of thus area went to work at the southern salt licks, now territory of Chile. When the people of this place were asked where they were from, they used to say “from Characato, sir”; that is where the nickname of the people of Arequipa - ”characato” come from.
Salinas And Aguada Blanca National Reserve
The reserve covers almost 36.000 hectares including territory from the provinces of Arequipa, Caylloma (department of Arequipa) and General Sanchez Cerro (department of Moquegua), it was created for the purpose of preserving important associations of flora and fauna, protecting the natural environment that was deteriorating and in the process of being destroyed, as caring for the vicuña through a repopulation program. The reserve is located between 2800 and 6050 masl (91.86 and 19.849 fasl) and the Misti (5825 masl / 19.111 fasl), the Chachani (6075 masl / 19.931 fasl) and the Pichu Pichu (5664 masl / 18.583 fasl) volcanoes are found there.
Among the most representative species of the reserve are the vizcacha, the fox the condor, and the Andean flamingo or parihuana. Scientists have determined the existence of 169 animal species, 23 of which are mammals (including two forms of domestic South American comelids), 138 species of birds (blue billed ducks, eagle’s and kestrels are the trophies), 3 reptilians, 4 amphibious, and 3 fish species. Salinas Lake is considered a special spot to observe flamingos during their migration period.
