AREQUIPA
Location
Arequipa is located at a height
of 2325 meters in the Desert Mountains of the Andes. This beautiful
city is practically totally built out of sillar, a kind of white volcanic
stone. This is why Arequipa is called the white city. With its one million
inhabitants, Arequipa is the second biggest city of Peru. The main square,
the Plaza de Armas is the most beautiful of the country. The magnificent
"Catedrál" and the shopping malls are in colonial style. It is the city
with the eternal spring
Main
Attractions
La
Compañía
A church that peculiarly offered a lot of resistance against
the earthquakes is "la Compañía". It is unknown when this building
was made. Above the entrance hall we read 1698, but other parts of
this Jesuit church date from 1654. Because of its odd style we recommend
to visit this church. Don't forget to leave your footprints in the
Ignacio-chapel as well. "La Compañía" is situated on the Plaza de
Armas.
Santa Catalina
By far the most interesting
site in Arequipa is the convent of Santa Catalina. Built as a city within
a city in 1580 and expanded in the 17th century. Probably this is the
biggest convent in the world. 450 nuns lived there for more than 400
years, totally cut off from the outer world. The inhabitants of Arequipa
had no clue of what happened between the high walls of the complex.
Lots of tales circulated through the people. Santa Catalina wrapped
itself in mystery and silence until 1970 when a big part of the convent
opened its doors for the public. In the north area of the complex there
are still nuns living. Locals and tourists can freely visit the remaining
part. Everything was beautifully renovated and the little streets and
squares are full of colorful flowers and the walls are painted in fresh
tints. Narrow alleys bring you to the different parts of the convent
passing picturesque squares and old living rooms with original furnishings.
Many people can still smell the atmosphere of the dark Middle Ages visiting
the dining hall, the square where nuns did their laundry, the washing
hall and the extensive library with an incredible collection of books.
Unfortunately the library is not always open to public. Some visitors
stay all day and melt away in the still living past of this convent
or just wonder around and lose their way from time to time. Take your
time to visit this wonderful place, it will give you a lot of inspiration.
The convent of Santa Catalina is situated in the street with the same
name and three blocks away from the Plaza de Armas.
La Recoleta
Next to the Rio Chili is the
Franciscan convent la Recoleta. The original building dates from 1648
and was totally reconstructed after the earthquake of 1687. Inside
there is a library of more than 20.000 books The Franciscans are known
for studying and teaching all of their life. That are centuries old
books are found. The oldest book dates from 1494. They housed lots
of works of art from before and after the era of the conquistadors
and can be visited. Indians made parts of these objects and were imported
by missionaries out of the rain forest. La Recoleta can be visited
daily from 9am to 1pm and from 3pm to 5pm.
Colonial houses
Besides of religious buildings,
Arequipa owns beautiful colonial houses form the 17th and the 18th
century. Some of them are still private property; most of them are
sold to banks or reconstructed them as shopping malls and hotels.
Some of these fantastic colonial houses can still be visited. Pay
special attention to the perfect workmanship, the gardens and the
many statues and fronts.
Around Arequipa
National
Parks
Eternal snow is seen on the
summits of "El Misti", the "Chachani" and the "Picchu Picchu". The
coast is only two hours west and in the east is the surrealistic volcanic
area of Arequipa is situated, in the National Park of "Pampas de Cañihuas"
graze lots of llamas and alpacas. The guanacos and vicuñas are also
part of the scenery. So every visitor can see the four camel-like
animals of Latin America in one day. This unlimited plateau is situated
at 3.800m and more. Views are spectacular. Passing a small mountain
village Viscachani on 41.50m, the road continues climbing up to an
altiplano of 4.800m where nothing grows. A very tough grass that grows
2 cm a year and a brown-like moss the reproduces peripheral is the
main vegetation. This is what the few animals adapted to these heights,
the vicuña and the llama, get to eat. Passing this altiplano brings
you in a valley where the road goes downhill to the mountain village
Chivay. This place is the biggest town of the valley of the Colca.
Hotels and restaurants offer comfort. Next to Chivay are the warm
water springs of natural volcanic heated water. Approximately 600
years ago the Incas used this water to heal all kinds of skin diseases
because of the green sulfur in the water. A simple but ingenious system
of canals brings the water 72°C to big swimming pools of 38°C. Swimming
in this water is a relaxing and recommended experience while watching
the huge mountains on the other side of the Colca River. So don't
forget your swimsuit and towel on this trip.
The Colca Canyon
Chivay is situated a 160Km
east of Arequipa and is the beloved resting-place for many tourists
going to the Colca Canyon. The people of the area is proud to call
this valley the deepest in the world: a mountain ridge of 3.200m from
summit to river. But this canyon is visited by many to see and photograph
the biggest bird in the world: the condor. Although this species is
endangered by extermination, the occasion actually seeing a condor
is reasonable. These vulture-like birds hunt early morning or late
afternoon. Most condors are between December and March at the coast,
because of the rain season in the Andes. On the way to the deepest
place in the canyon, you'll see the mysterious Toro Muerto. This cemetery
of the Wari Indians is built in a 90° steep cliff face. It's hard
to believe that these people brought their deaths to this place. It
is even hard work for a professional climber to get there. The dead
were buried in the position of a fetus, like all over Peru in ancient
times. "Man has to leave the world as he came," said their unwritten
bible. Ten kilometers further up the road you get to the "Cruz del
Condor" where the Colca River is seen 1.200m below. On the other side
of the valley is Mount Mismi situated with its summit 3.200m above
the Colca. Further downstream there are actually deeper canyons but
these are only accessible by foot, trained hikers and a well packed
backpack.
History
There are two theories about the
origin of the name Arequipa. Long ago the Aymara Indians founded a
settlement in this place. In their language, "Aymara", stands "ARI"
for "summit" and "QUIPA" for "laying behind". Indeed, the majestic
volcano "El Misti" is seen out of Arequipa. The second theory says
that the name comes from the language of the Inca's, Quechua. The
legend tells the story of the Inca Mayta Capac, the fourth Inca, traveling
through the valley. A column of soldiers, sacred virgins and nobles
escorted the Sapa Inca. Mayta Capac saw the settlement that was never
before visited by any emperor. He was amazed by the beauty of this
place and the strategic importance as connection between the ocean
and Cuzco in the center of the Andes. He said: "Ari, quipay!" translated
as "Yes, stay!" This was the answer on the desire of some of the fellow
travelers who settle down on this place to develop the area as an
important city in the Inca empire. Arequipa was totally destroyed
in 1600 by a strong earthquake and volcanic eruption. The Spanish
reestablished the city on the 15th of August 1540. This date is still
remembered by festivities in and around Arequipa with carnivals and
fairs in the evening during one week. The climax of the festival is
on the 14th of August with a splendid fireworks on the Plaza de Armas.
El Misti (the Gentleman) is not the only volcano around Arequipa,
but the most famous and elegant and in the middle of two smaller volcanoes,
the "Chachani" (the Beloved) and the steep "Picchu Picchu" (the Top
Top). The pressure between the tectonic plates of Latin America and
the Pacific created some memorable dates in Arequipa. In 1687 and
1868 earthquakes destroyed almost every building in the city. Also
the Catedrál and the San Francisco church were quite damaged. Most
of these churches date beyond 1868. The reconstruction of the Catedrál
finished in 1898. This is maybe why the church looks quiet cool inside
in comparison with other cathedrals in Peru. Outside the Catedrál
looks impressive in the loved baroque style.
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