Arequipa Cathedral Catedral

The imposing Arequipa Cathedral stretches the entire length of the north end of the Plaza de Armas. It was originally constructed in 1656. In 1844 the Cathedral was gutted by fire, rebuilt shortly thereafter and then destroyed in the earthquake of 1868. The Cathedral which stands today was rebuilt following that quake. Another large earthquake hit Arequipa in June of 2001, toppling one of the Cathedral's towers and damaging the other, but was repaired the following year.

In the Arequipa Cathedral is an organ, said to be the largest in South America, which was donated by Belgium in 1870.