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AREQUIPA: "The
White City"
Arequipa is the second city of
Peru, known for its cultural and economic activity. It is known within the
country as the ‘White City’ due to the colour of the volcanic lava which
was used to construct many of its buildings.
This
Peruvian City is situated near the base of
Misti (5,821m), a volcano that is sleeping and which completely dominates
the landscape of the city, with its peak covered by snow. Next to this
mountain is another volcano called Chachani (6,075 m) and Pichu-Pichu
(5,425m).
This beautiful city was founded in
1540, but its principle churches and landmarks date from the XII and XIII
centuries, at a time when it prospered from agriculture and the benefíts
derived from its situation in the commerce of minerals, which went from
Potosi (Bolivia) to Spain.
Arequipa is the most important
industrial centre of Alpaca wool textile in the entire country.
Places to visit include the
cathedral, constructed in the XIX century, the Church of la Merced, the
Church of San Agustín and the Monastery of Santa Catalina, founded in 1580.
This monastery was, until 1970, closed off to the world. Nowadays, some of
the nuns still keep the vow of silence. Rich Spanish families sent their
daughters to this Monastery. It is as if it were a city within a city, where
its narrow streets still bear Spanish names
Colca
From Arequipa, the visitor can pay
a visit to the valley and wander along the banks of the River Colca: To
leave the White City, the road climbs up the slopes of the Chachani volcano,
arriving at the Pampas de Cañahuasi, where one can observe the sweet
fugitive Vicuñas, herds of Alpacas and Llamas ( all
of these species are cameline
natives of South America).
During the journey, visit the 'Ventana
del Colca’, an interesting rock formation (4,400m), as well as the
small village of Callalli and its church.
Accommodation can be found in the
settlement of Chivay, where there are medicinal waters and spas, ideal for
recovering from the journey. On the second
day, take a trip along the bank of the Colca, which includes a stop
at a lookout called Cruz del Condor, where you can observe, quite easily,
these enormous birds as they glide and hover, using the rising thermal
currents.
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