Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa Historical Site

Address: Plaza de Armas, Arequipa, Department of Arequipa, Peru

The Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa is an urban area in southern Peru notable for its colonial-era architecture constructed largely from white volcanic sillar stone. The centre includes civic, religious, and residential buildings dating from the colonial period.

Arequipa grew as a colonial city from the 16th century under Spanish rule, becoming an important regional administrative and commercial centre; many churches, monasteries, and civic buildings were constructed in the following centuries using locally quarried volcanic stone. Earthquakes and rebuilding have shaped the evolution of major structures.

The historic centre lies in the valley of the Chili River at the foot of volcanic peaks in southern Peru, about 230 kilometers west of Cusco by road; the city occupies high-altitude Andean terrain.

• Sillar stone: Much of the historic centre is built from white volcanic sillar stone, which gives the city its nickname and a distinctive monochrome appearance in sunlight.

What to See#

• Santa Catalina Monastery: The Santa Catalina Monastery is a large convent complex founded in the late 16th century with internal streets and courtyards that functioned as a separate religious city within Arequipa.
• Plaza de Armas and Cathedral: The Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral form the civic and religious heart, surrounded by buildings constructed in local white volcanic sillar stone.

Arequipa is accessible by air via Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (AQP) with flights from Lima and other Peruvian cities. Long-distance buses connect Arequipa with Cusco and Lima. The city center is walkable from most hotels; taxis are inexpensive for farther sites.

• Visit the Santa Catalina Monastery early in the morning to see its cloisters before tour groups arrive.
• Look for sillar (white volcanic stone) details in façades; the soft stone gives Arequipa its distinctive pale color.
• Acclimatize in Arequipa (2,335 m) for at least a day before strenuous excursions; altitude headaches are common.