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Arequipa
is located in the south of Peru at around 800 km from Lima and 200 km from
the Chilean border. The city's also called The White City due to volcanic
stones that are commonly used for the construction of houses and
buildings. Arequipa is placed in the middle of a great green oasis at 2
325m and just in the center of the aridest part of The Andes. The city's
surrounded by several volcanoes like El Misti (5 821m), considered as the
symbol of the city, the Chachani (6 075m) and the Pichu Pichu (5 571m):
This white stone called "sillar" has been used to build great
and impressive places like La Compañia, Santa Catalina Monastery,
Huasacache Palace, etc ...
Classified in 2000 as Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by Unesco, the center of the city and its Plaza de Armas are one of the most beautiful one in the country. Due to its beauty and delightful weather (between 21° and 25° during the day), Arequipa is to be visited by foot. Our walks will take us from colonial buildings to parks, from small streets with antique decorations to palaces. Arequipa counts with almost one million citizens and is the second more important city in Peru. There are two theories about the origin of the name Arequipa. Long ago, the Aymara Indians founded on this place a settlement. In their language, Aymara, "ARI" stands for "summit" and "QUIPA" for "laying behind". Indeed, the majestic volcano El Misti is seen from Arequipa. The second theory says that the name comes from the language of the Inca's, Quechua. the legend tells the story of the fourth Inca, Mayta Capac, traveling through the valley. A column of militaries, 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 to settle down on this place and to develop the area as an important city of the Inca empire.
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 firework on the Plaza de Armas. Arequipa is located in a very important seismic zone. In 1600 the whole city was entirely destroyed by an earthquake and a volcano eruption. The last earthquake in the city was in 2001 and caused very severe damages in the city. Nowadays, Arequipa is a very big city that means a lot economically for Peru but it is also a good place to be in touch with nature and just be in a quiet green river-surrounded place. As the city, the state of Arequipa is mind-blowing due to its volcanoes, canyons, lakes, terrace gardens and its National Reserve of Salina and its hot springs. |
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
PLAZA DE ARMAS : Surrounded by colonial buildings, the main square of Arequipa is a green oasis full of palmers and fountains. It's a living place where is nice to sit to have a good chat, enjoy a quiet moment or just to admire the majestic cathedral.
CATHEDRAL : The original structure is from 1656, destroyed in 1844 by a fire and in 1868 by an earthquake. the great cathedral (the only one in Peru that takes a full block around the main square) shows its external opulence. the internal side is mostly sober due to the different kinds of styles coming from many different European countries. An organ concert takes place monthly.
SANTA CATALINA MONASTERY : It was before a city inside a city. Built in 1580 and enlarged during the 17th century, it was the house of over 450 people that never went out of it. In 1970, the major of Arequipa forced the monastery to stick to the law and to have water and electricity connections. In regard of this requirement, the nuns of the convent decided to open it to the public. Nowadays, only 20 people live in the northern wing of the convent. The rest of the place is accessible to visitors to discover all its antique constructions painted in fascinating colors.
There are many churches in Arequipa but the most antique one is La Compañia, placed next to the main square and with a very majestic carved facade. This Jesuit church is the only one that survived all the earthquakes. The church San Francisco, on the north-western side of the city, build during the 16th century, presents a magnificent dome and a silver-made altar. Other churches you should visit are San Agustin, Santo Domingo, Santa Teresa and La Merced. In Cayma, a north-western neighborhood, San Miguel Arcángel church is well-visited. The access to its tower allows us to have a complete view of the city.
In the neighborhood of Yanahuara, on the west, a very accessible walk from downtown allows us to discover El Mirador and to have a splendid view of the city and the Misti. The neighborhood of Vallecito, in the south-west, means nice walk through parks, quiet streets next to Chili river. Arequipa has many parks accessible from downtown.
Arequipa's got also some nice museums. One of them is Museo Santuarios Andinos that shows the already famous Juanita mommy, discovered in Amapato summit (6 380m) in 1995. This one-hour visit, as long as it is, is really worthy. We also mention Museo Histórico and Monasterio de la Recoleta.
SHORT HISTORY OF LIMA
PRE-COLUMBIAN
PERIOD :
In the very ancient times, there was a fishermen village in the area, whose
habitants were essentially religious. Later on, the Proto-Lima culture appeared
comprising two expressions: the Maranga and the Aramburu.
The cultures in the Lima valley were developed by three people: the Collas
coming from Canta and Huarochiri, the Huanchos who came following the course of
the Rimac river, and the Huallas who entered the valley through Carabayllo.
When the Incas arrived, they respected their buildings, way of living and
religion, allowing them to worship the new God Pachacarnac along with their own
god the Sun.
HISPANIC
PERIOD :
On January 18th 1535, Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro reaching its
greatest splendor in the 17th and 18th centuries, during which it came to be the
seat of the political and military power represented by the viceroy, 40 viceroys
ruled Lima. The Spanish city was laid out in a rectangular pattern around a
central square, a pattern that the old city retains to this day, although much
of the original city was ruined by an earthquake in 1746. The city and
conurbation has been growing rapidly since the beginning of the 20th century,
first in the south, where settlements that grew into towns became the first
suburbs of Lima, then westward into the open area separating Lima from Callao.
Many old colonial style buildings have been preserved in the older part of the
city, which now forms Lima's center. These include the cathedral, churches,
government buildings and private mansions. Some of the town in the southwestern
part of the conurbation, such as Miraflores, are wealthy residential suburbs and
seaside resorts.
REPUBLICAN
PERIOD :
General Jose de San Martin, proclaimed the independence of Peru in Lima on July
28, 1821. It was later, during the government of Mariscal Ramon Castilla, that
Lima took an advanced step over the cities of the American continent by
implementing a railroad for the first time in South America between the cities
of Lima and Callao. It was also during this period that gaslight and the
telegraph were installed and black slavery was abolished.
To see the location of Casa Varela, click here 
In order to make a reservation, click here 
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