Arequipa / Peru: The white city
The city of Arequipa is located in the south of the country of Peru and is the capital of the region that also bears the name Arequipa. Arequipa got its nickname because of the numerous buildings made of white volcanic rock. So it is one of the largest cities in the country. In the areas of economy, culture and politics, the metropolis is one of the most relevant contact points in the country and can be described as the center of these areas, especially in the south.
History of the city
The origins of the city can be found in the time of the Inca, it was officially founded in 1540 by the Spanish conquistador Garcí Manuel de Carbajal. The full name of the city was “Villa de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción del Valle Hermoso de Arequipa”, which was later abbreviated to its current name. If you want to travel to Peru, you should definitely visit the city, as there are numerous sights to be found there.
Numerous religious buildings as tourist attractions
The various churches and cathedrals in the city are certainly particularly exciting attractions. Here you can name the Iglesia de la Compañía, which was built in the 16th and 17th centuries for the city’s Jesuits. In the construction of this church you can see an impressive combination of the Spanish and local styles, both baroque and mestizo stylistic devices can be recognized. The sacristy was only restored in the middle of the 20th century and attracts with visually very attractive ornaments.
Also the Arequipa Cathedralis extremely impressive, its creation stretched from the 17th to the 19th century, which underlines the complexity and size of this structure. The final shape was not achieved until 1844, when the cathedral had to be restored after the devastating consequences of a severe fire. The 2001 earthquake also damaged the building, necessitating repairs that lasted three years. In the early days, the cathedral was more impressive due to its external shape, the interior was rather simple. This was changed in the 19th century when a pulpit and an organ were imported from France and Belgium. The importance of the cathedral in the Catholic world is underscored by
In the area of the relevant religious buildings is also the Santa Catalina Monasterynoteworthy, which still dates from the time of colonization. Located in the center of the city of Arequipa, this monastery was built in 1579 so that many wealthy Spanish families could send their daughters to this monastery. A large part of the city was completely walled only for the monastery, so that an independent district was created in which up to 150 nuns and their servants are said to have lived. The monastery has only been open to the public since 1970, and tourists can view very impressive furnishings from many different European countries here. In general, many of the city’s churches have been converted into relevant libraries and museums over the course of time. They contain numerous valuable writings and paintings.
Other sights of the city
There is also a lot to marvel at in Arequipa for nature lovers. For example, the Colca Valley, which is part of the Andes and looks very impressive. The reason for this is the record-breaking depth of the valley, it is the second deepest canyon in the world. There are numerous opportunities for hiking and mountain tours.
In addition to all the churches, the Museo Santuarios Andinos is also an important museum in the city, in which finds from the archeology of South America can be viewed.
