We Discover The Beautiful Villa Of Yanahuara
Yanahuara is one of the most beautiful municipalities that make up the province of Arequipa, in Peru. It is located on the right side of the Chili River. It is one of the oldest municipalities that you can visit a short distance from the provincial capital.
The history of Yanahuara
Yanahuara traces its roots to many centuries before the arrival of the Spanish, since its territory was occupied during Prehistory. However, it will be with the Yanahuara ethnic group that it begins to have some importance, thanks to its good management of agriculture and the herding of llamas and alpacas.
With the arrival of the Spanish, the place would become a reduction of Indians, hence its urban layout is orthogonal. Thus began to grow one of the most beautiful towns that you can find in the area, a fact recognized through the declaration as ‘Villa Hermosa de Yanahuara’ on November 8, 1870.
What to see in the beautiful Yanahuara
1. The square and the viewpoint
Yanahuara Square is the center of this municipality. It is a square divided in two by a street that goes up to the Cerrito San Vicente neighborhood. Around the first one, in the main one, are the church of San Juan Bautista, the Municipality and the Yanahuara viewpoint.
Here you can admire one of the most beautiful ornamental fountains in the area, made of carved ashlar decorated with large flowers. Meanwhile, in the other square we can find a millstone, a vestige of the mills that occupied the area and a recreation of a typical Arequipa window. Around it you will see some examples of Arequipa’s mansions.
And in both squares there are benches where you can sit and enjoy the serenity of this place and a rich frozen cheese. We recommend that you buy the ones on the corner of the street that divides both squares. It will be sold to you by a girl dressed as a typical Arequipa milkmaid.
2. The church of San Juan Bautista
It is a gem of the Baroque Arequipa. It consists of a temple and a parish house and in it you can visit the temple, a small chapel that is at its entrance and a room that is in its atrium. In the latter there is a small craft market where you can buy some precious pieces.
The construction date of this temple is still unknown. It is known that in 1750 some of the continuous arrangements suffered by this church must have been completed. Do not forget that the area has been hit over the centuries by constant earthquakes.
It has a rectangular floor plan with a single nave covered by an impressive barrel vault made of ashlar stone and in the foot area it has a small chapel always open to the public. But the most outstanding thing is its façade, a beautiful example of Andean baroque presided over by San Juan Bautista.
3. The neighborhoods of Yanahuara
Among them, you cannot miss the Cerrito San Vicente neighborhood, which is located just behind the Municipality building. There, its streets are adapted to the orography of the land and in them there are many houses of white ashlar and the pots with red geraniums. In addition, you will see a small chapel made of ashlar dedicated to Saint Vincent.
Meanwhile, if you go down the slope of the Angel you will arrive at the traditional Yanahuara neighborhood, where you can also see samples of beautiful Arequipa mansions. To get there, you just have to go under the arch that connects the church of San Juan Bautista with the viewpoint of Yanahuara. This arch is unmistakable, as it has a beautiful angel carved on it.
Arriving at the Chili River there is another of the most beautiful and picturesque places in Yanahuara. We are talking about the Leoncio Prado alley, in the vicinity of which is one of the best picanterías in the city.
