Cathedral of Arequipa, Arequipa (must see)
The only cathedral in Peru to stretch the length of the plaza it is situated on, The Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa is the most important place of worship in the city. The original structure dates back to the mid-17th century. Although there were some modifications made after the cathedral suffered from a fire and an earthquake, it still looks beautiful and tells a fascinating story about the significance of religion in the colonial era.
The interior of the cathedral is spacious and simply decorated. The high altar and twelve columns symbolizing the twelve apostles are made from Italian marble. The magnificent, large Byzantine candelabra lamp hanging above the altar was brought here from Spain. The huge organ imported from Belgium at the end of the 19th century is said to have been the largest organ ever brought to South America.
Inside the cathedral there is a museum where you can visit four rooms: two belong to The Treasures of the Cathedral - it contains crowns and religious pieces of ancient goldsmithing -, another to Ornaments and Cloths and the last, to Religious Paintings.
The interior of the cathedral is spacious and simply decorated. The high altar and twelve columns symbolizing the twelve apostles are made from Italian marble. The magnificent, large Byzantine candelabra lamp hanging above the altar was brought here from Spain. The huge organ imported from Belgium at the end of the 19th century is said to have been the largest organ ever brought to South America.
Inside the cathedral there is a museum where you can visit four rooms: two belong to The Treasures of the Cathedral - it contains crowns and religious pieces of ancient goldsmithing -, another to Ornaments and Cloths and the last, to Religious Paintings.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Arequipa. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Cathedral of Arequipa on Map
Sight Name: Cathedral of Arequipa
Sight Location: Arequipa, Peru (See walking tours in Arequipa)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Arequipa, Peru (See walking tours in Arequipa)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Arequipa, Peru
Create Your Own Walk in Arequipa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Arequipa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Arequipa Introduction Walking Tour
Capital of the eponymous region of Peru, Arequipa is a colonial-era city rich in architecture built of the volcanic stone provided by three neighboring volcanoes. The historic downtown area of Arequipa is dominated by Plaza de Armas complete with a plethora of ancient churches located nearby, of which the most notable is the 17th-century Basilica Cathedral. This orientation tour will walk you... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Historical Churches
Colonists from Spain brought to Peru and Arequipa the power of Catholicism, which is beautifully reflected today in the splendid architectural designs of Arequipa's numerous places of worship. Arequipa’s churches are among the most striking in Peru. Take this self-guided walking tour to explore the city's religious heritage.
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles