Attractions and Places To See in Paucarpata - Top 20

Saint Catherine of Siena is the saint who inspired this monastery, where silence found its voice in the bright colors of its walls and in the cobbled corridors that converge on the beautiful main square. Santa Catalina is more than a monastery, a melting pot of secrets that the visitor can barely guess through its enclosures, but whose truth will remain forever within its walls.

According to the chronicles, the most important social and religious activities were held in this space. Bullfights were even held. However, until 1868, the square was mainly the home of the city's merchants. After the earthquake (magnitude 9 on the Ritcher scale), a large part of the cathedral was damaged, as were the arches that surround the square. At that time, a process of beautification of the place began. The arcades were unified, the cathedral was improved and the merchants of the area were relocated.

The current façade is 40 meters high and 107 meters long and, as already mentioned, occupies an entire side of Arequipa's main square. In 1868, the next earthquake destroyed the basilica; the bell towers, the portal, some arches of the façade and the altars were rebuilt faithfully. The cathedral was last damaged by an earthquake in 2001; both towers were severely damaged, but these were repaired just one year later.

The San Camilo market is the largest and most famous in Arequipa. The "San Camilo de Lelis" monastery and the San Camilo church used to be here, both of which were destroyed by an earthquake. The market was built on this site and inaugurated in 1938. Inside, in addition to all kinds of edible products, handicrafts and various utensils, you can also see the sculptures of San Camilo, Señor del Perdón and San Pedro. The market is considered a historical monument of the city. Today it is one of the most famous tourist attractions.

The Temple of the Company houses the most valuable paintings of Arequipa from the sixteenth century and the most remarkable Baroque altarpieces of the city. The sixty-six oil paintings form an important collection by two masters who had a significant influence on the painting of the Viceroyalty: the Jesuit monks Bernardo Bitti and Diego de la Puente.

The Jesuit Church on the main square of the Peruvian city of Arequipa is a true gem from the colonial era. The magnificent Iglesia de la Compañía (literally "Church of the Community") is located in the southeast corner of the palm-lined Plaza de Armas and is one of the most beautiful baroque churches in all of Peru.

Nice little square in Arequipa's old town next to the Complejo San Francisco with shady trees and benches and steps to sit down. There are also bars, restaurants and souvenir shops.

The Monastery of Saint Catherine of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Catherine. Catalina de Siena is located in the center of the Peruvian city of Arequipa in the Andes, more than 2300 meters above sea level. The monastery and church are dedicated to St. Dedicated to Catherine of Siena. The twenty nuns who currently live in the monastery live in a side wing that is part of the cloister. You can visit most of the monastery building.