The Plaza de Armas of Arequipa is one of the main public spaces of Arequipa
and the founding place of the city.
It is located in the historic center of Arequipa, around it is the Cathedral
of Arequipa in the north, the Portals of Arequipa to the east (of San
Agustín), southeast (of the Municipality) and west (of Las Flores), the Church
Compañía to the south-east, the Nuestra Señora de la Merced Church to the
south-west and in the center of the square a bronze basin.
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Panorama of Arequipa's Plaza de Armas
The Cathedral of Arequipa was built in ashlar (volcanic stone), with
brick vaults. It is the main church of the city that occupies the entire
north side of the Plaza de Armas.
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The Plaza de Armas of Arequipa has three large portals. Which
previously functioned as the council of Arequipa in the viceregal era
and since the republican era they function as the municipality of
Arequipa. The portals have neo-Renaissance architecture and are made
of granite.
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Furthermore, the prison and the Royal Treasury were found there. Until
the 20th century, awnings were also erected there, under which the
indigenous market or ccatu was set up. In it, the highest authorities
were received and celebrated, the ordinances were loudly raised, the
military clearances, the bullfights, the processions and the guilty
prisoners were executed on the roll or pillory which was a column or
pillar of stone erected in front of the Arequipa town hall.
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Bronze pool with a sculpture made of copper of a pixie with a
trumpet.
In the center of the square there is a bronze pool with a sculpture made
of copper of a pixie with a trumpet, it is said that it once had wings,
but over the years it was lost, this sculpture is known as
Tuturutu.
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There is a myth about the tuturutu that says that it represents a
soldier from the 16th century. The closest source to the character in
question was the priest and historian Ventura Travada y Córdova, who
in his book The soil of Arequipa turned into heaven, tells us
about it: "crown her (referring to the font) an angel for fame,
through whose mouth the water rises in a very high plume..."
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Another legend says that "Tuturutu" was a short character who enjoyed
the trust of the Inca Mayta Cápac for being his official messenger to
the ayllus and soldiers, (according to the Arequipa historian Manuel
Huanqui Hurtado). "The name Tuturutu was taken from the sound of the
instrument that this character used to announce to the Inca about the
arrival of a chasqui or some parcel." When the Inca's people returned
to the dairy after hearing the sound Tuturutúúú. Tuturutu! to receive
seeds, parcels and provisions; while the Inca ordered kindly. "El
Tuturutu" from delivering so much day and night, one morning he woke
up dead and petrified by a cold wave and since then he became the
permanent lookout of the Plaza de Armas of Arequipa.
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See also
Source
Location
