Arequipa
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History:

Its name comes from the quechua word "Ari-que pay" which means "Si, quedaos". Arequipa is located in the point where the central andean area and the andean south center are divided, therefore, the valleys placed at the south of the Sihuas rivers are incorporated to this area. This division was more notorious in the Wari Empire's Age which embraces the valleys in the north up to Sihuas.

The most brilliant era is identified with the Churajon Culture which largely occupies the Arequipa valleys with very dense inhabited places and big agricultural projects represented by irrigation works, terraces and fully dominated valleys. There are important places in Arequipa like Casapatac, Sabandia or Churajon showing a dense population.

The Chuquibamba Culture was developed at the same time than Churajon in the valleys located at the north of the department with extensions in the southern provinces of Ayacucho and contacts with Cusco. The settlements of this culture which is identified generally with the Collaguas, are important specially in the Colca Valley.

The Incas descended to the Yunga region through Arequipa looking for new conquests. The Spaniards conquistadores headed by Manuel de Carbajal founded the city of Arequipa in the foothills of the Misti Volcano. In the Republican Age, important battles were developed in this department like the ones performed by Ramon Castilla, Mariano Prado, Nicolas de Pierola, Sánchez Cerro and others, that's why they have been named as collective leaders.

Arequipa has become in the center of the economic movement in the south of Peru and is one of the most important producing departments of milk in the country.