Yanahuara

About 1.5 miles from the city center liesYanahuara, a district of the province and of the city of Arequipa.  Yanahuara is a mainly middle-class area which is known as one of Arequipa's more "traditional" and picturesque neighborhoods.  Many of its buildings, particularly in the area known as "Yanahuara Vieja" (Old Yanahuara), are constructed from white sillar stone, amongst them the Church of San Juan Bautista, on Yanahuara's main square.

Church of San Juan Bautista (1750)

The Church of San Juan Bautista (i.e., St. John the Baptist) was built in 1750, with an addition completed in 1783.   With it's ornate carved sillar entryway, it is often regarded as one of the most representative examples of mestizo Baroque architecture in the area.

Liz and I at the mirador, with Misti volcano in the distance.

Next to the park and church there is a mirador, or lookout point, comprised of a sillar arcade, decorated with inscribed quotes from famous arequipeños.  From the mirador all of dowtown Arequipa can be glimpsed, along with the three volcanoes - Chachani, Misti, and Pichu Pichu- at whose feet the city lies.

The view from the mirador.
Chachani is on the L, Misti in the center, and Pichu Pichu on the R.

Arequipa is famed throughout Peru for its cuisine and mongst Yanahuara's other attractions are a number of well-regarded picanterías, or restaurants where traditional, old-style regional foods are served.

 

Clockwise from top L: Chupe de camarones (crayfish stew), and Liz at picantería Sol de Mayo;

spiced pork and beef steaks at Picantería Nueva Palomino;  Kola Escocesa (Scottish Cola), a regional soft drink;

Arequipeña beer; Chicharrón de camarones (deep-fried crayfish) with fried yuca, at Nueva Palomino.