Arequipa - Yesterday and Today

History

By John Howison

Arequipa Yesterday

Arequipa of yesterday is a tale of two stories: one of the Aymara indigenous people who had been settled in the area for centuries and another of the Spanish colonialists, who 'founded' the city in 1540.

Archaeological findings in the valleys around Arequipa suggest that the Aymara had been settled in the area for thousands of years before being conquered by the Inca Empire in the 1400s. The Aymara had developed advanced irrigation and agriculture techniques, the remains of which can still be seen in the valleys surrounding Arequipa. Upon takeover by the Incas, the Aymara and their land were relied on heavily by the Inca Empire to produce food and other agricultural products.

The Inca rule over the Aymara, however, was brief as the Spanish arrived shortly after and conquered the Incas. Modern Arequipa was 'founded' on August 15, 1540 by Garcí Manuel de Carbajal. Under Spanish colonial rule, agriculture continued to serve as Arequipa's principal economic engine as European crops such as wine, liquor and olive oil were established and cultivated in the region.

In July of 1821 José de San Martín declared Peru a nation independent from Spain and during the 19th century Arequipa was a hotbed for Peruvian nationalism. During this period Arequipa became known throughout the continent as a 'land of leaders' because of the often brave and daring rebellions of the Arequipeños.

Arequipa has a relatively isolated history until 1870 when it was connected to the Pacific Ocean by rail. It joined the intercontinental trading loop in the 1930s when road expansion gave Arequipa a direct link to the Pan-American Highway.

Arequipa Today

While once an important agricultural center for the Churajon culture, the main contemporary driver of the Arequipan economy is tourism. Generally considered to be the second most beautiful city in Peru after Cuzco, Arequipa is a bustling with attractions for all stripes of tourists. Visitors come to Arequipa to hike the volcanoes, visit the nearby Colca Canyon or walk around the downtown area taking in the colonial architecture.

The stunning architecture led to the city's designation in 2000 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the time, UNESCO declared that Arequipa represented a masterpiece of the creative coalition of European and native characteristics. Walking around the city will allow a visitor to witness the contrast of native and European influences that led to this distinction and to quickly become acquainted with why Arequipa is called la ciudad blanca, or 'the white city.' Many of the buildings are built with sillar, a white volcanic stone, and their façades shine in the high afternoon sun. The city's Plaza de Armas is one of the grandest on the whole continent and features many of the city's most stunning buildings—some of which have been completely rebuilt as a result of earthquakes in the area.

When the Spanish initially descended upon Arequipa in 1540 it had the largest Spanish population in all of Peru. The second half of the 20th century saw large migrations from the highlands, greatly changing the demographic and cultural makeup of the city. Today, Arequipa’s population is a mixture of Spanish, indigenous and Mestizo (mixed) inhabitants.  Many of Arequipa's colonial buildings have been coverted into hotels and restaurants serving the city's thriving tourism industry.