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Plaza de Armas of Arequipa

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The Plaza de Armas of Arequipa has unique and beautiful spots, here you can see several buildings such as the Cathedral of Arequipa, the Portales de Arequipa, the Church La Compañía, the Church Nuestra Señora de la Merced, all these buildings are made of ashlar, and in the center of the square is a bronze pool surrounded by huge trees.

History of the Plaza de Armas of Arequipa

The Plaza de Armas was built on the 15th of August 1540, at the same time the construction of the cathedral of the same began, from the beginning the square acted as a meeting place, as trade was very common at that time.

The founder of the village was Garcia Manuel de Carvajal in the river Chilli called it as "Villa de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora del Valle Hermoso de Arequipa" time later this place became the main point of Arequipa. The old settlers affirm that in the superior part of the pool there was a goblin that they called "Tuturutu" he was next to a trumpet, it is said that this figure in a beginning had wings.

Plaza De Armas Arequipa 2
Arequipa Main Square

Other legends say that he was the messenger of Manco Capac or a soldier of the XVI century; however, in front of all this the historian Manuel Huanqui said that Tuturutu was the sound made by the official messenger of the Inca, this to announce that he had arrived menajes or parcels.

Some time later the messenger had been found dead in the cold of the place, and to be recognized and not to be forgotten they put him in the pool. Today you can see that the colonial constructions are still there and also these were made of white ashlar.

There are also museums such as the Andean Sanctuary or the Viceroyalty Art, religious buildings and some sites of interest.

Location

It is located in the historic center of Arequipa, around it are large colonial buildings and is the main point of the same city where hundreds of visitors come.

Architecture

Arquitectura De La Plaza De Armas Arequipa
Architecture Of The Plaza De Armas Arequipa

The architecture of the main square of Arequipa has a geometric shape and large size. As you know the city of Arequipa is also called "white city" this refers to the fact that the buildings surrounding the square are built in ashlar and stone of volcanic origin.

On the other hand, the buildings have a neo renaissance style with a certain gothic inclination and you can clearly see it in the cathedral and the portals; the basin in the center has a figure of a goblin or tuturutu with a trumpet and it is made of bronze.

What to see and do in Arequipa's Plaza de Armas?

Traditional buildings surrounding the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the three granite portals called Municipal, San Agustin and Flores.

Cathedral of Arequipa and its museum, dates from the fifteenth century, it is said that this was not its structure, because of the earthquake happened in Arequipa lost part of its structure and had to remodel it, however, inside there are jewels and ancient sculptures.

Go to the complex of the Company of Jesus, one of the best exponents of the mestizo style of Arequipa.

Church of San Agustín, was one of the ancient seat of the National University of San Agustín.

Tour the Monastery of Santa Catalina, which has been in operation for 400 years and served as a cloistered center for nuns, now you can go sightseeing, admire its designs and mysterious sites.

The Museo de Arte Virreinal and the church of Santa Teresa, like the others, has more than 300 years of life and has endured great telluric movements and has works of art of great relevance.

Convent Museum La Recoleta, here you can see a variety of paintings from the Cuzco and Arequipa schools, a library, pre-Columbian art, religious art and spaces dedicated to the Peruvian Amazon.

Museo Santuarios Andinos, the museum has historical characters as is the case of the Inca mummy Juanita with more than 500 years old..

Visit the colonial houses, it has mestizo architecture, vaulted ceilings, huge patios, old mansions.

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