As the Inca Mayta Capac passed with his soldiers through the valley in which modern Arequipa sits, some asked to stay behind. “Ari quepay”, he said. Yes, stay.

The Spanish, when they arrived in these lands, often pronounced local words badly and named their new city the Villa Hermosa de la Asunción del Valle de Arequipa. Only Arequipa stuck.

Beneath the Misti volcano, the colonial city took on a unique look. Built from the white volcanic rock found in the area, the city quickly grew to be very beautiful. Its splended white colonial buildings are still to be seen around the centre, some painted in Spanish colonial colours.

The photos attached are of the plaza, and surrounding buildings.

Photos –

Tags: arequipa, cathedral, colonial, plaza, spaniards, streets