Arequipa

Arequipa is known as the White City because of the white porous volcanic rock (sillar) that was used to build most of its buildings. By air, this lovely city is 75 minutes south from Lima. Dominated by the snow-capped El Misti volcano.

The city is surrounded by mountains and snow capped volcanoes such as Misti (5820 m.) and Chachani (6096 m.). Arequipa City lies at 2400 meters above sea level but it has a very pleasant climate, its days are mostly warm and sunny, and its nights are cool. The pretty Plaza de Armas forms the city core, bordered on one side by a Jesuit church founded in 1689. There are many fine restored mansions and churches such as San Agustin with its Churrigueresque facade, but the primary religious monument is the Santa Catalina Monastery, a flowering complex of buildings that once sheltered a community of 400 nuns.