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Here are some interesting facts about Charlotte's first Sister City:
- Name: Arequipa was named the "Ciudad Blanca" (White City) because of its many beautiful buildings made of ashlar (Chechani's petrified volcanic ash). |
- Location: Arequipa is nestled between the sea and the mountains in southern Peru. Arequipa rests 2,336 meters above sea level on the foothills of three volcanoes -- Chechani, Pichu Pichu and Misti.
The city has a mild climate where the sun shines most of the year.
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- Population: The population of the region (approximately 600,000) reflects Arequipa's rich heritage with its mixture of white, mestizo and aboriginal peoples.
- Sister City Affiliation: Arequipa became Charlotte's first Sister City in 1962.
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- Economy: Arequipa is predominantly tourist-related because of the geographical diversity and historical importance of the region. Arequipa also functions as a critical center for communications, economic growth and cultural and political leadership in Peru.
Other products of the region include primarily textiles, agrarian goods and metallurgical products for which Arequipa has been working progressively to create international markets.
- Area History: Arequipa's history dates back as far as 5000-6000 BC as recorded in cave paintings and some 400 archaeological monuments. Conquered by the Incas in the 15th century, Arequipa served as as important supplier of agrarian products to the Empire.
In 1537, the first group of Spanish conquerors came of Arequipa and founded the "Villa Hermosa de Arequipa" in the old district of San Lazaro. Arequipa remained relatively isolated during colonial times, until 1870 when the rail system arrived to put it back in contact with the other cities of the coast and the highlands.
Arequipa served as a bastion of Peru's independence in the early 19th century and has extended that tradition into the 20th and 21st centuries as Arequipanians continue to play major roles in the country's political and cultural circles.
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