Arequipa, The White City

Largely built of sillar, a volcanic porous, white stone, Arequipa lies in the southern highlands of Peru, at the feet of mount Misti, an impressive, white-capped volcano. The Misti is currently inactive, and has been since a small eruption occurred in 1870 (for the really strong ones, we have to leap back to the three decades between 1438 and 1471). The Ciudad Blanca, or White City, as it is dubbed, features a handsome and elegant city centre, lined with white sillar walls and enlightened with Baroque churches and buildings from the Colonial Period.

In December 2000, UNESCO declared this historical centre a World Heritage Site, stating the following: "The historical center of Arequipa is an example of ornamented architecture, represents a masterpiece of the creative coalition of European and native characteristics. A colonial town challenged by the conditions of nature, the indigenous influences, the conquest process and evangelism as well as for a spectacular natural scenario."

Some of the most representative attractions include the 16th-century Santa Catalina convent, an elegant, city-like monastery with its own streets, squares, and courtyards; the sumptuous Plaza de Armas; and mansions such as the Goyeneche Palace and the Moral house. Everything framed against a monumental trio of peaks: the Misti (5,822 m), mount Chachani (6,075 m), and a second volcano, Pichu Pichu (5,669 m).

Moreover, Arequipa is the main gate to the Colca Canyon, one of the most extraordinary destinations in Peru. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, it's a prime area for the practice of adventure sports (mountain biking, trekking, and white water rafting), and the best place in South America to see giant condors.

Image: Arequipa's Main Square (Photo by Colegota, licensed under a "Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Spain" licence)

With exceprts from Wikipedia and PromPeru.