Peru’s “healthiest city and the most peaceful in which to live,” as it was so aptly described by the Spanish conquistador Cieza de León, was founded on August 15, 1540, by Garcí Manuel de Carbajal at the orders of Francisco Pizarro.

At that time, the Villa de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora del Valle Hermoso de Arequipa, as it was known, was divided into blocks each measuring 875 meters long, forming perfect squares

Its historic center, which offers a fascinating synthesis of Arequipa’s singular architecture, is now considered a World Cultural Heritage Site. This title was bestowed by UNESCO on December 2, 2000, describing it as follows: “The historic center of Arequipa, built in volcanic sillar rock, represents an integration of European and native building techniques, expressed in the admirable work of colonial masters and Criollo and Indian masons. This combination of influences is illustrated by the city’s robust walls, archways and vaults, courtyards and open spaces, and the intricate Baroque decoration of its façades.” The archways and portals of the Plaza de Armas and its imposing churches are framed by the natural beauty of the city’s three “guardian” volcanos, Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu.