Arequipa is a city in southern Peru, located in the valley of the Chili River in the Andes. Known as “The White City”because of the use of sillar—a local white volcanic stone—in many of its buildings, Arequipa sits at more than 2,300 meters above sea level at the foot of the dormant cone-shaped Misti Volcano, which rises to 5,821 meters. Flanking Misti are the Chachani and Pichu Pichu mountains. Throughout history, earthquakes have repeatedly damaged the city, most notably in 1600, 1868, 1958, 1979, and 2001. Its water supply largely comes from glacier-fed reservoirs and aqueducts.
During the Inca Empire, Arequipa was an important stop on the route between Cusco and the Pacific coast. The Spanish rebuilt it in 1540, under the orders of Francisco Pizarro, establishing a stronghold named Nuestra Señora de la Asunción del Valle Hermoso (“Our Lady of the Assumption of the Beautiful Valley”).
The city was founded in a valley intensively cultivated by pre-Hispanic communities. The Historic Center of Arequipa, built primarily from volcanic stone, represents a unique integration of European and local construction techniques. This is reflected in its robust city walls, arches, courtyards, arcades, and the richly ornamented Baroque facades crafted by colonial master builders and indigenous stonemasons. The use of white and pink volcanic sillar gives the city’s architecture a distinctive character, shaped by its natural environment, Spanish conquest, evangelization, dramatic landscape, and recurring earthquakes.
Arequipa’s development can be divided into five periods: its founding as a settlement (1540–1582), Baroque splendor (1582–1784), the introduction of Rococo and Neoclassicism (1784–1868), modern empiricism and neoclassical styles (1868–1960), and contemporary design. Beyond its grand churches, the city boasts around 500 casonas—large, stately colonial houses—reflecting the dignity of its urban architecture.
The Historic Center of Arequipa is an outstanding example of a colonial settlement shaped by conquest, evangelization, natural conditions, and local influences. Despite frequent earthquakes, most of its buildings have been restored multiple times, preserving their typology and decorative details, and maintaining a remarkably harmonious appearance.
The richly ornamented architecture of Arequipa is a masterpiece of creative integration between European and indigenous styles, central to the cultural identity of the region. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Historic Center presents a spectacular blend of cultural and natural heritage, offering visitors a magnificent cityscape of extraordinary beauty.
