Santa Catalina convent (16C), the highlight of a visit to Arequipa, is nowadays only inhabited by twenty or so nuns who live an austere life. Yet back in the 18C, nearly 500 sisters enjoyed unparalleled freedom and a lavish lifestyle within these wal..

Whether it be the interior or the exterior, Compañía Church (17C) is a gem of Baroque architecture. Surprising plant, animal and Indian interlaced motifs and patterns adorn the portal and the cloisterb, while the church's nave is graced with finel..

The Museo Santuarios Andinos was opened following the discovery in 1995 at the top of the Nevado Ampato (some 6000m high), of the body of a young girl, sacrificed by the Incas 500 years earlier. Called the Ice Maiden , she was remarkably well preser..

It is a treat to wander through the rooms of the Museo de Arte virreinal Santa Teresa. Frescoes, paintings (particularly by Quispe Tito), sculptures and different objects of the colonial era are located in this pleasant early 18C convent, still parti..

The Plaza de Armas is framed to the north by the cathedral and on its three other sides by a double row of arcades with sturdy granite pillars and brick vaults, with the snow-capped peak of the Misti volcano in the distance. The square is always live..

Topped by two pointed bell towers, the cathedral's long Neoclassical façade graces the northern side of the plaza de Armas . Originally built in 1656, it collapsed and was rebuilt three times and the building's current aspect dates from 1842. The to..

The historic heart of Arequipa is built out of volcanic sillar and paints one of Peru's most homogeneous architectural pictures. European styles mingle happily with local traditions, in particular in the Baroque decoration of the facades. In additi..