Arequipa combines a distinctive historic cityscape with religious art and regional cuisine. At its heart are Plaza de Armas, buildings made from volcanic Sillar stone and places with different cultural focuses. When planning your trip, you can choose between architecture, collections and everyday life at Mercado San Camilo.
Plaza de Armas and Sillar Architecture
Plaza de Armas is the heart of Arequipa’s historic city. Its urban surroundings include arcades, the town hall and the cathedral; it is protected both as a monumental ensemble and as a monument. At its center stands a bronze fountain with a figure named Tuturutú. The square therefore offers a concrete starting point for distinguishing Arequipa’s historic architectural styles and individual landmarks.
The historic center is built from volcanic Sillar stone and combines European and Indigenous building techniques and design features. Most of the historic buildings date from the 18th century and are made mainly of Sillar. Round arches and vaulted roofs characterize many of them. These features are evident not only in the materials: the combination of different building traditions is also part of the center’s character. Anyone choosing Arequipa for its architecture will therefore find more than a single type of building here.
The location of Iglesia de la CompañĂa helps with orientation: it is southeast of Plaza de Armas. A tourist route there leads from the façade through the interior and into the chapel, showcasing, among other things, pre-Columbian art. Its location and the route described make the church a distinct focus within Arequipa’s historic architecture.
Churches, Art and Historic Sites
Iglesia de la CompañĂa also preserves oil paintings by Jesuits Bernardo Bitti and Diego de la Puente, who shaped the viceroyalty period. The route through the façade, interior and chapel is thus complemented by a collection that offers another perspective on the church: alongside its architecture, the paintings of these two artists take center stage.
Complejo San Francisco comprises several parts: the colonial church, the cloister of the San Francisco monastery, the church and cloister of the Secular Third Order of Saint Francis, a library with 20,000 volumes and a painting collection. Museo Franciscano, meanwhile, opened in 2006 to introduce visitors to Franciscan culture. It features religious artworks and objects in the Pinacoteca of the Immaculate Conception. The cultural focus of the Franciscan institutions can thus be understood through their architecture as well as their art and library holdings.
Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena presents a different architectural form: this small, walled religious citadel comprises cloisters, squares, streets, tiled roofs and paved floors. It was established in 1580 as a fully enclosed convent for nuns. Museo ArqueolĂłgico JosĂ© MarĂa Morante Maldonado, by contrast, is housed in a historic Sillar building constructed at the end of the viceroyalty period and declared part of the Nation’s Cultural Heritage. These descriptions draw attention to different historic buildings without reducing them to the same architectural type.
Mercado San Camilo and the Surrounding Area
History, architecture and everyday life in Arequipa come together at Mercado San Camilo. The market is also a cultural and tourist destination. Typical Arequipa dishes on offer include queso helado, buñuelos, adobo dominical, rocoto relleno and caldos. The variety ranges from sweets to savory dishes, making the market a distinct focus alongside churches and historic collections.
The Chili River Valley is part of the natural and cultural surroundings of the historic center. Three snow-capped volcanoes and pre-Hispanic agricultural terraces in the surrounding area define this broader setting. Arequipa can therefore be described not only through Sillar, arcades and religious art: the relationship between the historic center and its natural and cultural surroundings is also part of the city’s character.
For an overview of the wider trip: Arequipa.
