Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa

The Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa is the principal Roman Catholic cathedral in Arequipa, Peru, and the seat of the Archdiocese of Arequipa. It is notable for being built from the local white volcanic stone called sillar.

Located on the north side of the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral presents a prominent facade with twin bell towers and a large central nave. Inside are multiple chapels and carved altarpieces; the complex also contains a museum of religious art and liturgical objects. The twin towers and the sillar facade make it one of Arequipa’s most photographed landmarks.

The cathedral has colonial origins and was rebuilt and modified several times after damage from earthquakes and fires; its current appearance reflects major 19th-century reconstruction phases and later repairs. It has long served both as a liturgical centre and a civic landmark in Arequipa’s historic centre.

Sited directly on the Plaza de Armas in central Arequipa, the cathedral sits within the city’s colonial core, surrounded by arcaded buildings, civic offices and other historic churches.

• Building material: Constructed from the region's white volcanic stone known as sillar, which gives the building its distinctive pale appearance.
• Ecclesiastical seat: Serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Arequipa and occupies the north side of the city's principal square, the Plaza de Armas.

What to See #

• Cathedral Museum: Houses a small museum of religious art and liturgical objects located within the cathedral complex, with paintings, vestments and ecclesiastical silver from the colonial period.
• Bell towers: Two prominent bell towers flanking the main facade that are visible from the surrounding Plaza de Armas and the city centre.
• Main nave and chapels: Main nave and multiple chapels with carved altarpieces and colonial-era religious iconography used for regular liturgies and special services.