Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Belgium
Denmark
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Sweden
Switzerland
Square · Arequipa, Arequipa
Plaza de Armas de Arequipa
Arequipa's central square, with sillar arcades on three sides, the Catedral occupying the fourth, a bronze fountain in the middle and the Misti and Chachani volcanoes appearing behind the rooftops.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Plaza de Armas de Arequipa
The Plaza de Armas of Arequipa has been the city's center since its foundation in 1540. Three of its sides have two-story arcades with sillar, the region's white volcanic stone, which house shops, cafés and balconies. The fourth side, to the north, is entirely occupied by the façade of the Catedral, one of the largest in Peru.
In the middle of the square is an 18th-century bronze fountain featuring a soldier figure that locals call Tuturutu. The gardens have palm trees and benches, and on clear days the Misti and the Chachani appear behind the Catedral's towers, with snow on their summits part of the year.
On the southeast corner stands the church of the Compañía de Jesús, of the Jesuits, with a 1698 sillar façade carved in the style historians call mestizo, mixing European and Andean motifs like pumas, fruits and flowers. Inside, the chapel of San Ignacio has a dome painted with tropical plants and birds. The cloisters of the Compañía beside it house alpaca shops and handicrafts.
From the streets that lead out of the square you can walk to Santa Catalina, to the Museo Santuarios Andinos and to colonial mansions like the Casa del Moral and the Casa Tristán del Pozo.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 hour for the square, the arcades and the Compañía; with the Catedral, 2 to 3 hours.
Best time
Early in the morning, when the sky is usually clear and the volcanoes are most visible, and at night with the Catedral illuminated. In August, the city's anniversary celebrations fill the square.
How to get there
It's Arequipa's center. Most hotels in the historic center are less than a 10-minute walk away. From the airport it's about 8 km by taxi; from the bus terminal, 4 km.
Tip
Go up to one of the arcades' balconies on the west side to see the Catedral head-on with the volcanoes behind. Enter the chapel of San Ignacio in the Compañía to see the painted dome.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Plaza de Armas de Arequipa
What is sillar?
It is a light-colored, lightweight volcanic stone formed from compacted ash, used in Arequipa's churches and big houses. It gave the city the nickname White City.
What to see in the church of La Compañía?
The 1698 sillar-carved façade, with Andean and European motifs, and the chapel of San Ignacio, with a dome painted with plants and birds.
Can you see Misti from the plaza?
On clear days, yes: Misti and Chachani appear behind the Cathedral. Early in the morning the sky is usually clearer.