Lost in the valley between the desert and the mountain range of Arequipa begins to delight from the moment of settlement to the hotel. At what other resort can be removed a decent family room with breakfast. Moreover, the kinder peruvians will not only be diverse, but also advise where to start the inspection of the White City. So called Arequipa due to numerous buildings from the White Volcanic Sillar Stone. The buildings look very smart. This is especially noticeable against the background of the Misty volcano, on the slope of which is located the city.
The inspection of the city can be started with one of the most beautiful areas of South America - Weapon Square . On the perimeter it was surrounded by buildings with arches, which gave the area a fantastic effect of a temporary spatial portal. A cathedral was also sheltered, made in a mixed architectural style. This happened due to frequent earthquakes. However, it did not prevent him from becoming one of the few cathedrals, where it is allowed to raise the Vatican flag. Everyone can visit the cathedral from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 for free. The center exposure of the area is a fountain with a bronze figure of a trumpeter. For locals, he is a symbol of Arequipa.
Church of the Order of Jesuit (Iglesia La Compañía de Jesús)
The facade of the church is decorated with Catholic and Indian motifs. Beautiful and unusual looks uptaking vegetable stucco with mythological beings on the walls of the Church.
The courtyard is also performed in a delightful openwork style. On all its numerous columns there is an ornament in the form of a grape vine. And the old rister is converted to the chapel, the dome of which is partially glazed and amazes all visitors with tropical decoration.
There is a church near the weapon area at Iglesia La Compañía de Jesús. You can see it on all days except Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00.
The center of Arequipa is filled with colonial churches. They are mainly focused on the streets of Santa Catalina and San Agustin. Tourists can bypass all of them in one day if such a desire arises. Limited time travelers can look into the St. Francis Cathedral (Iglesia San Francisco) and to the Merced Church (Iglesia La Merced). This will be enough for not particularly religious guest guests of the city.
You can also get acquainted with the architectural and historical features of Arequipa in the inspection of significant buildings that have previously served at home for local nobility. Among them, special attention deserves Casa del Moral mansion (Casa Del Moral) . Stone gates Mansion are decorated with a carvings. They show the heads of the pum and crown supported by the angels.
An ancient tute tree is growing in the courtyard, in honor of which the palace himself is named. The mansion can be viewed on samples of colonial furniture and beautiful canvas of famous artists.
The doors of the palace are open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 at CERCADO, 318. For a symbolic fee of $ 5 adults can inspect the mansion, children are studying for free.
Most of the day should be spent on the inspection of the main attraction of the city - Monastery of Saint Catalina (Monasterio de Santa Catalina) . This is a real mini city hidden behind the walls of the Women's Monastery. Streets and alleys of a small town are planted with orange trees and stitched by pots with a variety of flowers. Surprisingly, all six streets have names. Most of the monastery at the moment is a museum. However, the visitors are still open access to monastic cells and a kitchen. The buildings and galleries of the monastery are painted in bright colors and decorated with frescoes, painted in the Baroque style. Inside the museum is stored a collection of the XVII century cloths depicting the biblical scenes.
Getting to the monastery is very simple. It is located in the very center of Arequipa next to the weapon area. Do not notice the monastery is simply not possible. A ticket for his visit costs $ 13, but this money will not be spent in vain.
Tourists who wish to make unique snapshots of the nearby volcano should go to Puente Fierro Bridge (Puente Fierro . It is an iron building, converted across the Chile River. You can get to this improvised observation deck of the city by taxi.
It is not worth going beyond the central part of the city. The outskirts of the Arequipians look poorly and is not well maintained. Their appearance can spoil a pleasant impression from visiting the White City.