Is Arequipa the Most Beautiful City in Peru?
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The main reason for the city’s appeal is that its buildings are constructed mostly from the white volcanic rock called sillar, quarried from the nearby volcanos. This gives rise to the nickname, La Ciudad de Blanca – the White City.
Arequipa is certainly a beautiful city; impressive and important enough to be listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site . I hope this selection from our many photos will inspire you to visit.
Arequipa is also known as the ‘white city’ for its many colonial houses built from the locally quarried sillar stone.
Arequipa’s Main Square: Plaza de Armas
The first place most of us go, when we visit a new city in South America, is the central plaza. Our guide book (Frommer’s Peru) describes the Plaza de Armas as “one of the prettiest main squares in Peru”, and I’d have to agree. It is surrounded on three sides by colonnades with all types of shops, many catering to visitors. Then the absolutely stunning cathedral takes up the whole of the fourth side. It is certainly a magnificent structure. However, we were surprised that the interior of such a beautiful building wasn’t just a bit more impressive.
On three sides of Plaza de Armas in Arequipa are these beautiful collonades. On the top floor are a number of up-market restaurants with a stunning view of the park and the cathedral.
The cathedral is built completely from the local sillar stone. It was badly damaged in the earthquake of 2007; one tower collapsed and has since been rebuilt. The interior is not quite as impressive as the exterior…
On the north-eastern corner of the plaza you will find La Compañía de Jesús Church and Monastery. This is one of the most ornate structures we visited. Sillar stone can be carved with very intricate designs and lends itself to the baroque style of the period. The façade of this church is certainly ornate. Next to the church is the former monastery of the Jesuits. Now it is another tourist attraction, and the cloisters are full of up-market souvenir shops. You don’t need to enter the shops to enjoy walking around these beautiful courtyards, whose pillars are also intricately carved.
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.
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- The elaborate facade of the church of La Compañía de Jesús, Arequipa. Compared to this, the interior is rather plain. This church, diagonally opposite the cathedral, was originally built by Jesuits. Don’t miss visiting the adjoining monastery – now home to many galleries and shops selling alpaca products!
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- In the forecourt of the church of La Compañía de Jesús, Arequipa, is this niche made from carved sillar stone.
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- The first courtyard of the monastery of La Compañía de Jesús in Arequipa has absolutely intricately carved columns made from the white sillar stone. It’s easy to miss the entrance to this: it’s to the left of the church, between the shops!
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- The monastery of La Compania Jesus in Arequipa has three connected courtyards – beautiful, and calm to wander through and browse the alpaca wool shops.
Businesses in Historic Buildings
Like La Compañía de Jesús Monastery, many of the historic buildings of Arequipa are used by current businesses rather than being conserved as museums.
One of these is the BBVA bank, just off the plaza, which operates out of an historic building with 3 courtyards. It is also home to an interesting, small museum. It feels kind of strange to wander around this beautiful place while people are conducting their banking business in a variety of offices, edging the courtyards.
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.
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- The front courtyard of the BBVA Bank in Arequipa (which has a stunning entrance gate!). It’s a good use of a colonial building; you will find it in the pedestrian street to the right of the cathedral.
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- This is one of the courtyards of the BBVA Bank in Arequipa. You’re free to wander in. They even have a public exhibition.
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- One of the many beautiful, sillar stone framed entrances in Arequipa; this one is for some kind of government office.
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- One of the many beautiful, sillar stone framed entrances in Arequipa; this one is of a hotel.
Other historic buildings house government offices, shopping centres, hotels, restaurants – in fact, any business you’re looking for in the historic centre may be found in an original building.
Arequipa’s Museums
We didn’t visit many museums, but there are plenty to be had in this historic city.
By far the most famous and popular is the Santa Catalina Convent. Our first visit to Arequipa in 2008 was short, but we spent a good portion of it in this amazing city within the city. It covers a whole city block – more than 2 hectares. It once housed 450 nuns, and their servants, who lived in complete seclusion. The women who lived there experienced freedom and autonomy that was not available to them outside the walls at that time. The Convent has been restored in part, and today’s nuns live in a separated section. The rest has been opened up to the public, in order to ensure its conservation.
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.
On our third visit to Arequipa, with Bron and Bob in January , we visited the Convent for a second time and found it just as enjoyable as the first time; wandering along the cobbled streets and through the buildings. This time we took a guide, which gave us a lot more information. But it also made it a bit too fast, particularly for Juergen, who likes to take his time and photograph at leisure. It is a relaxing place to be, away from the noise and bustle of the city outside. I imagine the lives of the women to have been peaceful and comfortable.
Another museum, which really piqued Bob’s interest, is the Museo Santuarios Andinos. It is housed in the Casa de la Cultura and operated by the Universidad Católica de Santa María. This is home to the famous mummy they named Juanita. She was discovered in 1995, frozen on the side of the Ampato Volcano. It has been learned that she was some sort of sacrifice made to Ampato by the Incans. If you want the full story, the visit to the museum is by guided tour and the history is very interesting. To Bob’s great disappointment, Juanita was on holiday, down in the laboratory, and another mummy was on display in her place. It was still a very enlightening experience, and to be recommended as part of a visit to the historical centre of Arequipa.
Please click thumbnails below for a larger photo with description.
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- The outside of the Museo Santuarios Andinos, home to ‘Juanita’, a surprisingly well preserved mummy, which was found frozen in the Andes in 1995. Inside no cameras or smart phones are permitted.
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- Casa del Moral, one of the many mansions in Arequipa, is open to the public. It gives a glimpse into the splendid past of this city.
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- The courtyard of Casa del Moral in Arequipa is painted in the same striking colour scheme as the Santa Catalina convent.
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- The dining room of Casa del Moral in Arequipa.
There are many old mansions in the historic city centre. We chose to visit the Casa del Moral because it is recommended as the best preserved example in Arequipa. Like many Spanish colonial buildings, it is built around a courtyard. The rooms are furnished with many original pieces, and it really gives a feeling of the times for those who lived in the comfort that wealth brings.
Arequipa is a good starting point to explore the Colca Canyon, and then travel on to Puno and Lake Titicaca, or to Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu! At around 2000 metres, you can acclimatise to the altitude, and travel on after a few days. Arequipa has many direct connecting flights to Lima, so we suggest that you make it your starting point to visit Peru. Make sure you explore Lima before you leave! Here are some tour suggestions you could take:
Is Arequipa the Most Beautiful City in Peru?
There is no doubt that Arequipa is a beautiful city. It is certainly worthy of its place on the World Heritage List. It has many, very impressive churches, besides those mentioned here. All of the buildings in the historic centre are worth a second look. When I walk through this city, I feel myself reacting to its beauty, and sometimes it just stops me in my tracks.
Santa Catalina is not the only convent in Arequipa. This is the San Francisco convent, which is not usually open to the public, except for the church for mass.
Based on this, I think Arequipa is the most beautiful colonial city we have been to in Peru.
What do you think?
Have you been to Peru? Have you been to Arequipa?
Tell us in the comments below.
The beautiful city of Ayacucho, and its history, just waiting to be discovered.
The city of Cajamarca, where the last Inca king was killed, and the interesting sights in the surrounding area.
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A very beautiful place with a great climate. I also loved Colca Canyon staying in Chivay doing some day walks. I hope to return!
It was beautiful. It left me breathless more than once and not because of the altitude. Such a sensational experience. Thank you for helping me relive it.
Happy to have a way to help you relive it and to perhaps inspire others to discover this treasure.