LOCATION

The department of Arequipa is located in the south western part of the country. It limits to the north with Ica, Ayacucho and Apurímac, to the south with Moquegua, to the east with Cusco and Puno, and to the west with the Pacific Ocean. Since part of its territory is Coast and part Sierra, the weather is varied (intense heat in summer and low temperatures in winter).

 The capital is the city of Arequipa, located at 2,335 m.a.s.l. (7,600 ft), with a beautiful architecture, based in ashlar stone, an extraordinary landscape and countryside, and a dry climate with mild temperatures.

The Misti volcano may be dormant, but Arequipa wakens every morning amidst a flurry of activity. And although the summit of the volcano is often wreathed by small clouds of smoke, the Arequipa townsfolk -proud of their land- do not fail to invite visitors to stroll through the streets of white stone and traditional squares.

BRIEF HISTORICAL REFERENCE

The department of Arequipa has a past that goes back to primitive times. It is estimated that the first settlements date from six to eight thousand years BC, during the Paleolithic Period. Evidence of this is found in the Yarabamba region, at Pampa Colorada and Sumbay, behind the Misti volcano. There it is possible to see Rupestrian paintings in caves of pre-historical times.

The Incas conquered Ayacucho, building an administrative provincial center of great importance in the zone of Vilcashuamán.

When the Incas, around the fifteenth century, expanded their domains in this region, they found two well-established ethnic groups in the region of the Colca valley, the Callaguas and the Cabanas, who were outstanding for their farming, seen still today in the their terraces or andenerías and irrigation systems.

In August 15, 1540, the Spanish, under the command of Captain Manuel García Carbajal founded the Villa Hermosa de Arequipa. One year later, King Charles V of Spain gave it the rank of 'city' and the coat of arms that remains until today.

The so called Ciudad Blanca or White City, due to the white color of its buildings constructed with sillar or petrified organic ash from the Chachani volcano, was a very important bastion during the struggle for independence in the nineteenth century.

Most outstanding among the precursors were Juan Pablo Vizcardo y Guzmán, author of the Letter to the Spanish Americans; Francisco Javier Luna Pizarro, head of the First Constitutional Congress in 1822; and the poet Mariano Melgar, executed in Humachiri.

FOLKLORE

The folklore of Arequipa is varied. As far as music and dances they emphasize the Yaraví, of origin quechua. The sailor, not as glad as northern nor the Limean, are rather rhythmic and satately. The Pampiña; considered like huayno primitive; he is pícara and the dancers use dresses of Farmer. The "Arequipeño Carnival" is a group dance that is danced during the carnivals and in the anniversary of the city, the 15 of August. Other dances are whitite, camile, chestnut tree, huaylia (farmers).

HANDICRAFTS

Craftsmen manufacture repoussé leather items such as belts, desk objects and furniture. With ashlar stone they make lamps, pictures, ashtrays and decorative items. Forged iron is used in the making of street lamps, gates, lamps and decorative furniture. They also make copper items.

PRINCIPAL ATTRACTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AREQUIPA

Colca Canyon, This is a canyon located in the province of Caylloma. It has a depth of 3,400 mt (11,000 ft) and is one of the deepest in the world. To get there one must go behind the Misti and Chachani volcanoes, as well as through the vicuña reserve of Pampa Cañahuas.

 Valley of Majes, In the province of Castilla. The Toro Muerto petroglyphs are located in this valley, with 5,000 large stones representing geometric figures, flora and fauna.

Valley of the Volcanoes, Located in Andahua at 337 km (235 ml) from Arequipa, this valley has an incredible landscape formed by approximately eighty small volcanoes, resembling the surface of the moon.

National Lagoons Sanctuary of Mejía, Located in the Coast at 20 km (12.5 ml) from Mollendo, this national sanctuary of 690 hectares includes waters of different grades of salinity, swamps, cat-tale fields, salt pits, and gramadales or grama grass fields. It is possible to find almost 157 bird species.

Sumbay Caves, These caves are located at 88 km (55 ml) from the capital. In spite of time, inside these caves there are valuable rupestrian paintings of the Paleolithic period. Human figures, Peruvian ruminants and pumas, among other designs, are represented in the rocky walls.
Imata Stone Forest, This very original rocky formation, located in the road to Puno, is a complex of natural stone columns, giving the appearance of a mysterious, enchanted and petrified forest.

CUISINE

The food arequipeña characterizes by its good flavor and condimentación with red pepper, reason why to the restaurants that sell typical food is called "picanterías to them". It has as it bases the famous ones "you absorb" in several forms, in addition emphasize the Stuffed Rocoto, Absorbs of Shrimps, Guinea pig Chactado, Chaque, Ocopa Arequipeña, Chairo, Timbo de Rabos, Stew, I marinate American, Timpusca, the traditional Chicha de Jora and the Flavoured with aniseed one.