Our Countryside, Sabandía Mill, and Founder’s Mansion tour
begins with pickup from your hotel located in downtown Arequipa, and we will
head towards the beautiful and extensive Arequipa
countryside, where onions and garlic are cultivated.
We will visit the Valley
of Chilina to admire the vibrant colors of the countryside from its grand
viewpoint. Here, you will have wonderful views of wide green fields and the Chili River.
We will visit Paucarpata,
which has terraces and viewpoints offering spectacular panoramic views of the
Arequipa countryside and the imposing Misti
volcano.
We will continue the tour by visiting the Founder’s Mansion, a traditional sillar
manor house built in the 16th century by the founder of Arequipa, Garcí Manuel
de Carbajal. Located 20 kilometers from the Plaza de Armas and near the
Socabaya River, its colonial-era style remains intact, as does its original
decor.
The mansion has been occupied by various prominent figures
such as doctors, bishops, generals, and priests. It features a small chapel, a
beautiful main patio, and colorful gardens. During the tour, you will observe
rooms adorned with canvases, ceramics, and furniture brought from Europe.
Just 9 kilometers from the city, you will find the Sabandía Mill, an architectural gem
dating back to 1621 made of sillar, and which still operates to this day!
Surrounded by beautiful and spacious gardens, with local trees and plants like
cacti and succulents.
Master stonemason Don Francisco Flores was responsible for
constructing this interesting site, and today it is one of the most important
historical monuments in Arequipa.
At the end of the tour, we will return to the city center to
drop you off at your hotel.