Arequipa Cathedral and its Museum

Cathedral Basilica of Arequipa It is a World Heritage Site and one of the first religious buildings built by the Spanish conquistadors in Arequipa. Its style is neo-Renaissance with influences of Gothic architecture.

The Cathedral of Arequipa began to be built in 1540, during the founding of the city, and in 1656 its construction was completed. This great work of architecture is made entirely of sillar, the white volcanic stone from the eruptions of volcanoes in the area.

In 1844 it endured a fire and in 1868 an earthquake, so its structure had to be rebuilt. Architect Lucas Poblete was in charge of this work. In 2001 another earthquake seriously affected the two towers of the Cathedral, which collapsed and had to be raised again.

In the museum you can visit four rooms: two belong to the Treasures of the Cathedral – it contains crowns and religious pieces of ancient gold and silver work -, another one to Ornaments and Cloths and the last one to Religious Paintings.

What to see and do in Arequipa Cathedral and its museum?

Tour its façade. The beautiful front of the Cathedral has 70 columns, with three portals and two lateral arches. Its two beautiful towers are in Renaissance style and underwent changes from the original ones due to the 2001 earthquake.

Admire the impressive Loret organ. Made in Belgium, this majestic instrument of the Cathedral of Arequipa is 12 meters high and has 1206 tubes. If you are lucky enough to be there on a Saturday you will be able to hear his music. It is the second largest in South America.

Enjoy the beauty of the sculpture of the 12 apostles. Made entirely of wood, this work stands out together with a carving of King David and the apocalyptic angels.

Observe the striking luxury of the objects housed in the museum’s Treasures of the Cathedral rooms. Pieces by Francisco de Moratilla -silversmith of Isabel II- and all kinds of precious stones and priceless jewels surprise every tourist who enters the place. It stands out “La Moratilla”, a golden relic of a meter and a half high that keeps in its interior the consecrated host of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

Review the ornaments and liturgical objects in the third room. In about 400 years of history, the costumes and objects used for the ceremonies were changing their designs and colors. This transformation can be seen there.

Tour the Religious Paintings room. Important oil paintings by the renowned painter Francisco Lazo, born in Tacna in the 19th century, depict different moments of the Gospel.

Climbing the bell tower. At the end of the tour of the museum’s rooms you can climb the stairs that lead to the bell tower, where you can take a look at the city and the three volcanoes that surround it.

How to get to the Cathedral of Arequipa and its museum?

The Cathedral Basilica of Arequipa and its museum are located in the northern sector of the Plaza de Armas. Being in the geographic center of the city, it is very easy to reach on foot from most of the tourist lodgings.

Recommendations

Admission is by ticket. Adults must pay an entrance fee of 10 soles to visit the cathedral, while the cost is 5 soles for university students and 3 soles for school children.

Temple Hours. If you wish to visit it from Monday to Saturday you can do so from 7:00 to 10:00 or from 17:00 to 19:00 hours. On Sundays it is possible to do so from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Museum hours. The museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4.15 pm. Closed on Sundays.

Estimated visit time. Both the Cathedral and its museum can be visited in approximately 45 minutes. You can take the opportunity to visit these sites on the day you spend walking around the historic center of the city, as it does not take too much time.

The guide fee is separate. Upon entering the site, a guide accompanies visitors throughout the tour, explaining the details of the architecture, works and history of the Cathedral. An additional 5 soles must be paid for this service.

Respect the indications. There are some places in the Cathedral and the Museum where photography is not allowed.

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