{"id":6726,"date":"2025-07-02T10:32:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T15:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/topinkatravel.com\/?post_type=blog&p=6726"},"modified":"2025-07-02T10:50:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T15:50:29","slug":"why-arequipa-is-the-white-city","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/topinkatravel.com\/en\/blog\/why-arequipa-is-the-white-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is Arequipa the White City? \ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f History and Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve ever dreamed of visiting a destination in Peru full of history, culture, and unique landscapes, Arequipa<\/strong> <\/a>should be on your list. But you may be wondering: why is Arequipa known as the White City?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll reveal the origin of this curious nickname by exploring its history<\/strong>, colonial architecture<\/strong>, and some of the mysteries surrounding this gem in southern Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"White<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The origin of the name: Why \u201cWhite City\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The answer lies in its streets. Arequipa gets its name from the predominant use of a very particular white volcanic stone: sillar<\/a><\/strong>. This material, extracted from nearby quarries, has been used since colonial times to build churches, convents, colonial houses<\/strong>, and monuments<\/strong> that today make up the historic center of Arequipa<\/strong>, declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site<\/strong> in 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you walk through its streets, you\u2019ll see buildings that shine under the sun, as if carved from marble. This unique feature is what inspired the nickname \u201cWhite City.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"White<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

History behind the White City<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Arequipa was officially founded on August 15, 1540<\/strong> by the Spaniard Garc\u00ed Manuel de Carbajal<\/strong>, although indigenous settlements had existed long before the arrival of the Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of sillar was no coincidence. The region is rich in volcanoes, and this material resistant to time and earthquakes became the ideal choice for building a lasting city. Thus was born a city that combined European influences with local techniques, resulting in a truly unique architectural style<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For centuries, Arequipa was an important religious, cultural, and economic<\/strong> center of southern Peru. Its wealth is reflected in iconic buildings such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n