Principales Atractivos:

- Plaza de Armas de la ciudad de Arequipa
Rodeada por la Iglesia Catedral y diversos portales, la Plaza de Armas presenta una hermosa fuente de bronce de tres platos coronados con la figura de un soldado del siglo XVI. A dicho personaje se le llama el "Tuturutu", que según la historia era el encargado de avisar de cualquier acontecimiento novedoso. Alrededor de la plaza se pueden apreciar tres portales hechos con granito y con bóvedas de ladrillo y cal: el Portal del Cabildo (Portal de la Municipalidad), el Portal de las Delicias (Portal de San Agustín) y el Portal del Regocijo (Portal de Flores).

- Catedral de la ciudad de Arequipa
Plaza de Armas. Tel: (054) 23-2635 / 40-5393. Visitas: L-S 7:00-11:30 y 17:00-19:30; D 7:00- 13:00 y 17:00-19:00.
Está considerada como uno de los primeros monumentos religiosos del siglo XVII en la ciudad. Se construyó en sillar (piedra de origen volcánico), con bóvedas de ladrillo; fue destruida por un incendio en 1844 y reconstruida en 1868 por el arquitecto arequipeño Lucas Poblete. Es de estilo neoclásico y los ingresos al templo se ubican en las naves laterales. Fue duramente golpeada por el terremoto del año 2001, el que afectó seriamente sus torres.

- Iglesia y Complejo de La Compañía
Intersección de las calles General Morán y Álvarez Thomas, Plaza de Armas de la ciudad de Arequipa. Visitas: L-D 09:00 - 11:00 y 15:00 - 18:00
Este conjunto está integrado por diversos edificios levantados por los jesuitas tanto para fines religiosos como para vivienda, y forma un monumento representativo de la arquitectura religiosa propia del siglo XVII (1660). En medio del conjunto sobresale el templo. La Iglesia de la Compañía fue diseñada en 1573 por Gaspar Báez y fue destruida por un terremoto en 1584. La estructura actual data de 1650. Posee aproximadamente 66 lienzos de la escuela cusqueña, de artistas como Bernardo Bitti y Diego de la Puente.

- Complejo e Iglesia de San Francisco
Calle Zela cdra. 1 s/n. Tel: (054) 22-3048. Iglesia: Visitas: L-S 7:00-9:00 y 17:00-20:00;
D 7:00-12:00 y 17:00-20:00. Convento: Visitas L-S 9:00-12:30 y 15:00-17:00.
El complejo comprende la iglesia franciscana, el convento y un templo menor conocido como de la Tercera Orden En la iglesia destacan el púlpito barroco decorado con relieve acortado y el frontal de plata del altar mayor. Además, se ha integrado al conjunto un pasaje corto denominado el Manguillo de San Francisco, que separaba la iglesia de lo que fue el primer Colegio de Educandas y posteriormente la cárcel de mujeres; hoy ha sido convertido en un centro comercial de artesanía y es conocido como "Fundo El Fierro".

Main Attractions

-Main Square, city of Arequipa
Bordered by various arched walkways and the Cathedral, the Main Square possesses a beautiful bronze fountain of three plates crowned by the figure of a sixteenth century soldier. Of this person, who is called “Tuturutu”, the story says he was in charge of warning of any new event. Around the square, you see three granite portals with brick and lime bases: Portal del Cabildo (Portal de la Municipalidad), Portal de las Delicias (Portal de San Agustín), and Portal del Regocijo (Portal de Flores).

-Cathedral, city of Arequipa
Main Square. Telephone: (054) 23-2635 / 40-5393. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 7:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M., Sundays 7:00 A.M. – 1:30 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
It is considered one of the first seventeenth century religious monuments of the city. It is built of sillar (white volcanic stone) with a brick base. Destroyed by fire in 1844, it was rebuilt in 1868 by the Arequipa architect Lucas Poblete. He used a Neoclassical style and placed the entrances of church on the flanking naves. In 2001, the building was struck hard by an earthquake, which seriously damaged its towers.

-Iglesia de La Compañía and complex (The Church of the Company of Jesus Christ)
Intersection of Calle General Morán and Calle Álvarez Thomas, Main Square.Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
This complex, made up of buildings constructed by the Jesuits for religious and living purposes, is a representative monument of the seventeenth century religious architecture (1660). The church itself rises from the center of the buildings. It was designed in 1573 by Gaspar Baez and destroyed by an earthquake in 1584. The current structure dates from 1650. Inside you find sixty-six canvases from the CuscoSchool from such artists as Bernardo Bitti and Diego de la Puente.

-Church of Saint Francis
First block of Calle Zela. Telephone: (054) 22-3048. Church visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 7:00 A.M. – 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Sundays 7:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Convent visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. and 3:00 P.M – 5:00 P.M.
The complex contains the Saint Francis church, the convent and a smaller church known as La Tercera Orden (the Third Franciscan Order). What catches the attention inside the church is the bas-relief decorated Baroque pulpit and the silver front of the main altar. Besides these, a short passageway, named Manguillo de San Francisco, has been added to the complex to separate the church from what was the first girl school and later a women jail. Today, it has become a commercial art center known as “Fundo El Fierro” (Iron Ranch).

- Monasterio de Santa Catalina
Calle Santa Catalina 301. Visitas: L-D 9:00-16:00.
Construido para albergar a las hijas de las familias más distinguidas de la ciudad con vocación religiosa, el monasterio fue inaugurado el 2 de octubre de 1580, bajo la advocación de Santa Catalina de Siena, como un centro de clausura absoluta, y así se mantuvo hasta el 15 de agosto de 1970. Ocupa un área aproximada de 20 mil metros cuadrados y su distribución es similar a la de los primeros barrios de Arequipa.
Presenta habitaciones muy diversas arquitectónicamente. Uno de los ambientes ha sido acondicionado como pinacoteca para exhibir lienzos de las escuelas cusqueña, quiteña e influencia arequipeña. Cuenta además con otras salas o sectores para visitar como el Claustro de la Portería, el Museo Precolombino, el Claustro de San Francisco, etc.

-Convento de La Recoleta
Jr. Recoleta 117. Tel: (054) 27-0966. Visitas: L-S 9:00-12:00 y 15:00-17:00.
E-mail: convento-la-recoleta@terra.com.pe
Convento franciscano fundado en 1648, se abrió al público recién en 1978. Presenta distintos estilos que van desde el románico hasta el neogótico, debido a sus diversas reconstrucciones (la última data de 1940). Cuenta con cuatro claustros y once ambientes, además de dos salas de arte precolombino, dos salas dedicadas a la amazonía y una sala de arte religioso. Posee, asimismo, una pinacoteca con lienzos de la escuela cusqueña y arequipeña y una valiosa biblioteca que cobija más de 20 mil volúmenes e incunables.

-Monasterio de Santa Catalina (Saint Kathleen Monastery)
Calle Santa Catalina 301. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Constructed to shelter the daughters of the wealthiest families of the city with a religious vocation, the monastery was inaugurated on October 2, 1580, under the name of Santa Catalina of Siena to be a totaly cloistered religious center, and it remained that way until August 15, 1970.
It occupies an approximate area of 20.000 m2 (215.285 feet2), and its placement is similar to the first neighborhoods of Arequipa. The building exhibits rooms of very different architectural design. One of the areas has been established as a gallery to display the canvasses of the Cusco, Quito, and ArequipaSchools. There are other rooms, or sectors, to visit as well, like el Claustro de la Portería (the Gate Cloister), el Museo Precolombino (the pre-Colombian Museum), el Claustro de San Francisco (the Cloister of Saint Francis), etc.

-Convento de La Recoleta (La Recoleta Convent)
Jiron Recoleta 117. Telephone: (054) 27-0966. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Email: convento-la-recoleta@terra.com.pe
A Franciscan convent founded in 1848, open to the public since 1978. It features various styles that include Romantic and Neo-gothic styles due to its different remodeling campaigns (the last one in 1940). It has four cloisters and eleven sectors, as well as two pre-Colombian art rooms, two others dedicated to the AmazonRain Forest, and another to religious art. It also has a gallery exhibiting canvasses from the Cusco and ArequipaSchools and a valuable library that protects more than 20.000 volumes and ancient books.

-Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo (Church and Convent of Santo Domingo)
Intersection of Calle Santo Domingo and Calle Rivero. Telephone: (054) 21-3511. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 7:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M. Sundays 5:45 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. – 7:45 P.M.
Architecturally, the church is characterized by a bell tower, its entrance with a corner pedestal, and its impeccable arch under the choir loft. Inside, one can appreciate paintings and other pieces of sacred art.It is also known for its side entrance being the oldest in Arequipa. The upper cloister of the convent was constructed around 1734.

-Casa del Moral (Moral House)
Calle Moral 318, downtown Arequipa. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. Holidays 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
An eighteenth century house, constituting one of the oldest and most important architectural monuments from the Arequipa Baroque period. The house owes its name to an ancient blackberry tree that grows in its main patio. Inside, furniture from Peru's Colonial and Republican epochs is on display. The main entrance of white sillar stone is a work of art in which you can admire carefully carved figures. For example, there is a crown suspended above a coat of arms that is held up by two angels, the coat of arms is composed of tinier carvings of a castle, a bird, a puma, and two crossed keys. In the same way, the room of sixteenth century “antique” maps of America stands out.

-Barrio de San Lázaro (Saint Lazarus neighborhood)
Five blocks from the Main Square, Arequipa.
This neighborhood of alleys, narrow passageways, small plazas, and large homes is the most representative of old Arequipa. This place was established by Dominican priests in 1538, who built a sanctuary to evangelize the natives of the area and prepare the land to found a new Spanish city. The small bridge that connects the Church of San Lázaro and its small plaza with the rest of the quarter is worth a visit.

-Casa Goyeneche (Goyeneche House)
Calle La Merced 201. Telephone: (054) 21-2251. Visiting hours: Mon. – Fri. 9:15 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
This sixteenth century house of white sillar stone is completely designed in the Colonial style. Prints from the Cusco and ArequipaSchools are preserved thereas well as sculptures from the GranadaSchool of the seventeenth century. The name comes from Mr. Juan de Goyeneche y Aguerreverre, who bought it in 1782. Presently, it is headquarters to the Central Reserve Bank of Peru in Arequipa.

-Saint AugustineChurch
Intersection of Calle San Agustín and Calle Bolívar. Telephone: (054) 22-0066. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 8:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Sundays 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
Built in 1575, the church displays a façade that dates from the first half of the eighteenth century and is considered one of the best of its time. In architectural terms, it belongs to the mixed-origin Baroque and the main construction material is white sillar stone. Inside, the main highlights are the dome, its Neoclassical altars, especially the major one, for the precise carvings and gilding

-Iglesia La Merced (Mercy Church)
Intersection of Calle La Merced and Calle Tristán. Telephone: (054) 21-3233. Visiting hours: Mon. – Fri. 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. Saturdays 8:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Its construction began in 1551 and was completed in 1607. It has an attractive side entrance, which features the image of the Virgin of Mercy accompanied by two saints of mercy. Important works of art like the “Aparición de la Virgen a San Pedro Nolasco” (Saint Peter Nolasco Recovering the Image of the Virgin) are preserved in its sacristy as well as a series of paintings related to the Virgin de la Merced in the main hall. The church and the convent, the latter constructed in the city, were built using the white sillar stone from Arequipa. The cloister maintains a library that dates back to the Vice royal period.

-Tristán del Pozo house
Calle San Francisco 108. Telephone: (054) 21-2209. Visiting hours: Mon. – Fri. 9:15 A.M. – 12:45 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Saturdays 9:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
This traditional, colonial house has a façade carved in mixed-origin Baroque. In addition, it was made with wide, unique patios inside. It was built in 1738 for General Domingo Tristán del Pozo. Today, it is the property of Banco Continental.

-University of San Agustín Archeological Museum
Intersection of Calle Álvarez Thomas and Calle Palacio Viejo. Telephone: (054) 28-8881. Visiting hours: Mon. – Fri. 8:15 A.M. – 4:15 P.M.
A varied collection is exhibited here including stone items, bones from human sacrifices, ceramic pieces from the Nasca, Tiahuanaco, Huari, and Inca, and objects of gold and silver from the Colonial and Inca eras.

-University of Santa María de Arequipa Archeological Museum
Calle Cruz Verde 303. Telephone: (054) 95-9636. Visiting hours: Mon. – Fri. 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. and 2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
The museum has around 1000 pieces (ceramics, textiles, mummies, works of stone, wood, and metal) from the different cultural groups that inhabited the Department of Arequipa from 12.000 B.C. up to the time of the colony: Nasca, Tiahuanaco, Wari, Churajón, Acarí, Aruni and Inca as well as transitional and colonial materials.

-Catholic University of Saint Mary
Calle La Merced 110, downtown Arequipa. Telephone: (054) 21-5013. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Sundays 9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
"The mummy, Juanita, will not be on exhibit from January to April each year because it will be going through a process of preservation."
Here, they exhibit la Dama de Ampato (the Lady of Ampato), an Inca mummy of a twelve to fourteen year old girl found at the top of the Ampato volcano by the climber Miguel Zárate, the archeologist José Chávez, and the anthropologist Johan Reinhard on September 8, 1995. According to the specialists, it is very likely that the girl, whose remains were found frozen, died from a blow to the temple from a five pointed granite mace. It seems that she was sacrificed to the Ampato Apu (protector god) some 500 years ago.

-Urbanización Selva Alegre (Selva Alegre suburb)
Considered the “garden of the city” for its large parks and huge trees that live in harmony with the modern houses of the area, Selva Alegre was constructed as a monument to Juan Pablo Vizcardo y Guzmán, fore runner of the Peruvian independence. The Molino de Santa Catalina (Mill of Saint Kathleen) is anothersite to visit, completely restored and located on the mall of this zone.

-Yanahuara Lookout
2 km / 1 mile from downtown Arequipa (8 minutes by car)
It was built in the nineteenth century and is composed of a series of sillar stone arches where the words of famous Arequipa citizens have been engraved. This spot is a wonderful view point of the city and MountMisti volcano.

- Misti Volcano
The foothills of the volcano are located 20 km / 12 miles. northeast of Arequipa (1 hour by 4x4 vehicle)
The Misti volcano, 5825 masl / 19.111 fasl is the guardian of the city. From the summit, you can see the city of Arequipa, the ChiliRiver valley, and the Chachani and Pichu Pichu volcanoes.