“Did you hear about the goblin that used to live in the Plaza de Armas?” The Plaza de Armas in Arequipa is a place of legends and grandeur. Established on August 15, 1540, it has been the heart of the city since its inception. You’ll notice the stunning white ashlar buildings surrounding the plaza. This volcanic stone gives Arequipa its nickname, “The White City.”
The square was not only a marketplace but also a stage for life’s dramas. One such tale revolves around a mythical goblin, or “Tuturutu,” said to have resided atop the bronze fountain in the plaza’s center. Some believed him to be the Inca ruler Manco Capac’s messenger, while others thought he was a 16th-century soldier. However, historian Manuel Huanqui proposed a more grounded explanation. Tuturutu, he argued, was the sound made by the Inca’s official messenger to announce important deliveries.
Legend has it that this messenger met an untimely end in the plaza’s cold, only to be immortalized as the figure we see today, forever blowing his trumpet atop the fountain. Dominating the north side of the Plaza de Armas is the magnificent Cathedral of Arequipa. This architectural marvel, dating back to 1656, has braved fires and earthquakes, each time rising from the ashes to reclaim its place as the city’s spiritual heart. Take a moment to admire its neo-Renaissance style, the seventy columns gracing its facade, and the Belgian-made organ within, said to be the largest in South America.
The Plaza de Armas is not just a feast for the eyes; it’s a tapestry woven from history, myths, and the indomitable spirit of Arequipa. Its stories, whispered through the ages, continue to enthrall, reminding us that some places are more than just bricks and mortar. They are repositories of the human experience, where every corner has a tale to tell.