Peru Packages: The Frozen Lady of Arequipa

With its white washed buildings made from sillar, a local volcanic stone, Arequipa, second largest town of Peru, is one of the most beautiful cities in the country and home to many fascinating remnants of Inca history. Most Peru packages will take you to this wonderful place, where it is truly a pleasure to stroll down the shaded streets and admire the delicate architecture. History enthusiasts will delight in the countless attractions of this city, among which the Juanita Mummy, also known as the Ice Maiden, which you cannot miss on your Arequipa explorations.

Juanita is the frozen body of an Inca girl, believed to have lived the 15th century between 1450 and 1480. She was discovered on Mount Ampato in the nearby Colca Valley by anthropologist Johan Reinhard in 1995. Also known as the Frozen Lady or the Lady of Ampato, Juanita is remarkably well preserved which made her an important discovery, even ranked among the top 10 world discoveries of 1995.

The Ice Maiden was discovered following a series of volcanic eruptions in the regions which melted the ice on top of the mountain and allowed her grave to be uncovered. She was luckily found before her body started to degenerate, allowing for great conservation.

The excellent preservation of the body allowed for several biological tests that gave new and fascinating insights into the Inca way of life. Juanita is believed to have been between 14 and 15 years old when she was sacrificed to the gods, as next to her body were found several ceremonial offerings also very well preserved. You can admire her alpaca shoes together with fine ceramic items as well as gold and silver idols dressed in feathers. The meaning of these offerings has yet to be established.

The Museum holding Juanita is located on Arequipa's main square, Plaza de Armas. Learn more about the great Inca Empire by paying a visit to this fascinating Museum, and if you are not too frightened, step into the temperature controlled room to take a look at Juanita's body.

This guide to Inca history in Arequipa was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less available to help you custom design exciting and adventurous Peru packages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hortense_Soulier

Peru Tours: Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa

Your Peru tours cannot be complete without a stop of a day or two in beautiful Arequipa, Peru's second largest city and probably one of the most beautiful. Known as the White City for its white washed buildings made of sillar, a local volcanic stone, Arequipa is home to many fascinating attractions that will without a doubt amaze you.

One of the most exciting sights of Arequipa is the spectacular Monasterio de Santa Catalina, a must-see on any traveler's list to Arequipa. This magnificent monastery, secluded behind gigantic adobe walls, was built in 1580 and extended in the 17th century, and covers more than 20,000 square meters.

Admire the architecture, predominantly from the Mudejar style, which reflects the fusion between Spanish and native influences, making this city and particularly Santa Catalina, a unique place. The walls are also adorned with vivid paintings. The convent itself is built with the local sillar stone, as well as ashlar, petrified volcanic ash from Volcano Chachani, which overlooks Arequipa.

Within the monastery, you will see an odd construction known as the citadel. This was built after a series of earthquakes destroyed much of the convent's properties. The citadel holds private cells for the nuns whose dormitories were damaged by natural elements. At one time, the monastery was home to over 450 nuns and their servants. Today, only 20 nuns remain, and the rest of the convent is open to the public.

Originally, residents were mainly criollas and daughters of curacas, Indian chieftains. Other women also entered the monastery to live as lay persons apart from the world. As time passed, the monastery grew to attract women of wealth and social standing who entered the novitiate or as lay residents. While outwardly renouncing the world and embracing a life of poverty, they actually enjoyed a very luxurious way of life until the mid-1800s when reform where implemented.

Try not to get lost in this enormous building, as you walk down narrow streets named for Spanish locales, pass through arched colonnades surrounding courtyards, some with fountains, flowering plants and trees. Linger in the several churches and chapels, or in one of the plazas comprising the monastery.

This guide to the Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less available to help you custom design exciting and adventurous Peru tours.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hortense_Soulier

Arequipa and the Ancient Historic Wonders of the Southern Peru

Arequipa is yet another colonial gem located in the south of Peru. Being Peru's second city it was initially a isolated town until the construction of a railway connecting it with the world and fueling industrial development. In close proximity to the town are the great sights of Colca Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world.

Arequipa itself sits in a fertile green valley and is graced by an overarching volcano that has provided many of the materials used to build the city. The city is known as the 'white city' due to the fact that many of the buildings were constructed using the light colored stone called 'sillar' from the volcano.

The city's colonial heart is around Plaza de Armas which is a beautiful green filled square with flower beds, palm trees and benches for people watching. All of the city's famous colonial buildings are in walking distance from here. You can also take guided open top bus tours from here. From the plaza you can see the great natural wonders that surround the city. Other sites include the Santuarios Andinos Museum and the wondrous Santa Catalina Monastary. The monastary was closed to visitors until 1970's and the nuns who had lived there had vowed their isolation - so the monastery became as isolated city in itself.

The region is home to a number of pre-Inca and Incas sites and attractions. Many first time visitors to Peru have heard of the Incas, but the whole Andean region was home to a number of similarly spectacular cultures and societies such as the Huari, Tiahuanuco, Chancay from before the reign of the Inca Empire. Arequipa's Catholic University Archeology Museum is home to a number of artifacts, textiles and ceramics that have been recovered from the region, as well as 'Mummy Juanita' which when found was a fully frozen preserved ice maiden from 500 years ago and tests have told scientists much about Inca lifestyle.

Peru is located relatively close to the equator and so is less variable to climatic change throughout the year and Arequipa, being located 7,808 feet (2380 meters) above the ground, gives the city all year round spring like weather.

Within a spring board distance of Arequipa it is possible to take a tour of the Colca Canyon, which is considered by scientists to be 10,470 feet (3,191 meters) making it twice the depth of the grand canyon in the USA. Touring the area as a visitor is a truly majestic sight and being off the traditional 'gringo' trail, as well as the areas remoteness, keeps many of the traditional Andean villages intact with local women still wearing traditional dress. Tours are available for a day, but increasingly adventure traveler tour the area for longer and sometimes camp out in the canyon to make the most of the experience.

While exploring the Colca Canyon you maybe graced by the opportunity to see the majestic Andean Condor- whose wingspan measures up to 18 feet. A good tour would pass by the Cruz del Condor on the Canyons south west rim. The best time to see the condors is early morning - about 9 am in the dry months of the regions (from May to December).

This guide to Arequipa and Peru vacations was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less, specialists in high value, fully customizable tours and packages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Hudson