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Virgen de Chapi Festivity (May 1st)

by besbel

The Virgin of Chapi is the lady and protector of Arequipa, to whom it have been attributed several miracles, and the devotion to her is very strong. Before year 2001, during this religious festivity, held on May 1st, masses of people use to do a pilgrimage to her sanctuary, (located 40 km from Arequipa) most of them by foot, and join her image which is taken out in a procession. To crown the day, in the evening fireworks are used in her honor.
However, due to the damages the sanctuary has suffered from the 2001 earthquake, the image of the Virgin has been moved to the church of Yanahuara, where this festivity takes place from that day on.

Good view of Plaza

by gt4715b about Restaurante La Serenata

I had breakfast at this restaurant which overlooks the Plaza de Armas. I mainly chose it for its location. I had the lomo saltado with eggs. The breakfast was OK with the exception of the lomo, which was too fatty for me.

Costs:

S\. 15.00 or $4.50

Monasterio de Santa Catalina

by Amareyui

This convent is like a seperate city in its own. It is a 20 square km complex of cobblestone streets, chapels, artwork, and residences. Once inhabited by up to 500 people; now only 30 nuns live in a small, isolated section.
Santa Catalina was first constructed in 1579, as a foundation for the nuns to be closer to God, and to "marry God".
Most nuns were daughters of prominent families, who believed that if a member of the family was to fulfill the spiritual quota, everyone in the family would be welcomed to live in heaven. Thus the monastery had long been an institution for rich girls to be isolated from the rest of the world.
I think this place is interesting, but definitely not a spiritual/God-felt experience. At certain moment I even find it freakish to hear those high pitch music at a lonely corridor.

Open daily 9am-5pm, last admission 4pm
Admission fee: s/25

Arequipa, Peru

by kiwigal_1

"Arequipa"

We arrived in Arequipa by plane from Tacna (on the border with Arica, Chile where we had crossed by taxi) and took a taxi to a hostel a few blocks from the plaza. Arequipa immediately struck me as a very pretty town and I was pleased we had decided to come here.

Arequipa is located at 2,335m above sea level making it a great place to come to acclimatise before heading to Cuzco and Macchu Picchu.

The climate in Arequipa is semi-arid/temperate with a maximum temperature of 21.7 degrees Celcius and a minimum of 6.9 degrees Celcius. The rainy season starts in January and ends in March.

"Wandering the streets"

In Arequipa we wandered the streets looking at the interesting architecture, churches, monastery, casonas, museums and markets.

"Visit to Colca Canyon"

While in Arequipa we decided to take a tour into Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. It was certainly a highlight of my visit to Arequipa.

For an overview of the tour please take a look at my two travelogues on Colca Canyon:
Travelogue One
Travelogue Two