City Tour- Saint Catalina Monastery

We will start the tour around the city visiting CARMEN ALTO viewpoint, located on the right side of CHILI river which one divide Arequipa in two parts. In both sides of the river is possible to see the terraces from the pre Inca period still in good state. We can see, as well, a beautiful landscape dominated by the majesty of the volcanoes MISTI, CHACHANI and PICHUPICHU. The nice weather makes it perfect for backyards where we can appreciate plantations with native products like tumbo (kind of passion fruit), arequipeña papaya, red bell Peruvian pepper, avocado, and physalis.

 

Then we´ll continuous until YANAHUARA district, traditional neighborhood with beautiful narrow and old fashion streets with andalucian influence. In the highest part is located its main square where is the famous Saint John Baptist church (1750) it has a façade in baroque style. On the right is the viewpoint, built in the XIX century, there are arches with bas-relief engraving of phrases and thoughts of some outstanding arequipeños. From this place we have a privileged view of the downtown and MISTI volcano. Next in our tour we're going to take a walk-ride to the PLAZA DE ARMAS ( Main square), one of the most beautiful and stunning of Peru. The Cathedral has a neo classic style with French influence in the interior part, considered a Minor Basilica; inside we can see elements brought from several countries in Europe, like the main altar made out of marble from Carrara, a pulpit carved in cedar wood brought from France.

 

It´s very important the mention the spectacular musical organ from Belgium. Then we'll visit the COMPAÑIA DE JESUS religious complex, the church and the cloister. The church has a façade with the most representative expression of the southern Peruvian baroque style, and inside keep colonial paintings and golden altars. Also the Saint Ignatius Chapel wellknown as the sacristy with a very famous polychrome cupola. Then we're going to visit the cloister built in 1738 where we can appreciate semi archways of heavy pilasters fully decorated on their four sides. The whole complex has three patios. On the way to the Saint Catalina Monastery we stop to see the TRISTAN DEL POZO Colonial House, this one belongs to the southern peruvian baroque style. The Saint Catalina Monastery is a small citadel in the city; this place has been closed to the public for centuries, nowadays harmoniously restored let us see how was Arequipa in the 17th century with narrow streets, squares and gardens, stunning and airtight cloisters in the middle of huge walls made out of ashlars, rustic laundry, cells, everything is part of this little colonial citadel.