15 October 2025 : Arequipa
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Arequipa is the second largest in Peru. Founded by the Spanish, it is much more European feeling than Cusco. It is nicknamed the White City as many of its central buildings are made out of white stone.
The Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is the most impressive I've seen other than Cusco's.
Basilica Cathedral
The sillar stone Basilica Cathedral, by the Plaza de Armas, is immense and opulent - the most impressive cathedral I saw in Peru. Because of the geological instability in the area this is the third version of the cathedral to be constructed ad itself has had to have substantial repairs following earthquakes. Photography was allowed except in the museum section which houses gold and silver religious items as well as elaborate priestly garments.
The rooftop of the cathedral gives excellent views over the Plaza de Armas.
Police
An unexpected feature of Arequipa was the number of police on the streets - it's hard to really convey how frequent they were. I later learned that the president of Peru had been impeached and removed from office. Even the ones spread across the street mostly let people past including me,but I was turned back a couple of times. I think they were stopping people from approaching an area, e.g. the Plaza de Armas, when they felt crowd density there was getting too dense.
Plaza de Yanahuara.
I also made my way to the Plaza de Yanahuara, where a row of sillar stone arches give views of the nearby El Misti volcano.
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