Ruta del Sillar – quebrada Culebrillas

“Did you ever wonder where the gleaming white stones of Arequipa come from?” I ask, gesturing towards the Ruta del Sillar – quebrada Culebrillas. This isn’t just a quarry. It’s a living testament to Arequipa’s nickname, the “White City.” The Ruta del Sillar stretches over two kilometers in the Cerro Colorado district, at the base of the dormant Chachani Volcano. Here, in Añashuayco, Cortadores, and Virgen de Culebrillas, the white volcanic rock known as sillar is born. This very stone has shaped Arequipa’s architectural landscape for centuries. As we journey through the Ruta del Sillar – quebrada Culebrillas, you’ll witness the ancestral process of sillar extraction. You’ll see firsthand how this lightweight, soft, and porous rock is carefully carved. The different mineral compositions create a variety of hues, from the iconic white to subtle pinks and yellows. Imagine the colonial-era builders selecting these very stones to construct the Santa Catalina Monastery. Picture them using the same sillar to erect the Santo Domingo and La Merced churches. Even the elegant arches of the Yanahuara Viewpoint owe their existence to this versatile volcanic rock. At the Añashuayco Quarry, we can marvel at a mega-carving of La Compañía de Jesús Church, crafted by the skilled hands of local artisans. We’ll see present-day quarry workers, carrying on the tradition of their ancestors. The Quebrada de Culebrillas, a short distance from Añashuayco, offers a different kind of wonder. Here, a 20-minute walk through a narrow canyon reveals petroglyphs etched into the rock faces by the ancient Wari culture. These markings, over a thousand years old, offer a glimpse into a civilization long past. The Ruta del Sillar – quebrada Culebrillas is more than just a quarry. It’s a journey through time, connecting the ancient world with the vibrant city of Arequipa today.