The capital of the Arequipa Province, Arequipa is Peru’s second most-important city. It stands at the foot of the snow-capped volcano El Misti.
With a population of about 762,000, Arequipa is often referred to as ‘La Ciudad Blanca’, or the white city, owing to the many colonial-era Spanish buildings that were built of a pearly white volcanic rock.
Typically, Arequipa has a mild climate, with moderate rainfall during January to March. A good time to visit the city is in August when the days are warmed by bright sunshine and the nights are comparatively cold.
Traditionally, it was believed that the city derived its name from the Quechua phrase ‘Ari, quepay’, or ‘Yes, stay’. However, recently, it is assumed to have come from Aymara ‘ari’, or ‘peak’ and ‘kipa’, or ‘located’, perhaps due to its proximity to El Misti.
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