CIRQA Relais & Chateaux - Magnificent boutique hotel in Arequipa, Peru (4K tour)
Welcome to Arequipa, Peru’s second largest city after the capital Lima, with an urban population of 1,3 million inhabitants Arequipa may not get as much international attention as Lima, Cuzco or Machu Picchu, but it is a stunning destination in itself Arequipa is surrounded by three imposing volcanoes, with the highest volcano being Ampato (6.300 m or 20.700 ft) Cirqa Hotel provides transfers to/from Arequipa airport (the ride to the hotel takes 30 minutes, depending on the traffic) Welcome to Cirqa, a Relais & Châteaux Hotel Cirqa is managed by Andean, a luxury company who showcases the true essence of Peru through authentic experiences Andean has 5 hotels, offering a circuit known as the Southern Peru Travesia: Lima, Arequipa, the Colca Canyon & Lake Titicaca Cirqa is housed in a historic building - a former monastery - which was founded in the same year as Arequipa city, 1540 The property – which was among the first built by European settlers in the New World – boasts a unique Peruvian character Most of the original volcanic rock architecture was preserved during the transformation of the former monastery into a hotel The meticulously restored high-vaulted ceilings, walls, arches and columns are infused with contemporary fixtures & fittings The team behind Cirqa are owner Ignacio Masias, designer Sandra Masias, and architects Stefanie Chang & Daniel Cisneros They choose the name Cirqa, with a Q, to honor the hotel's history in tandem with the history & chronology of Arequipa itself In 1540, Alonso De Luque, a renowned scribe, and his wife became the first owners of the land on which Cirqa now sits The couple never developed this land, and left it to the Augustinean Order to build a church with cloisters Construction of the monastery became a centuries-long process of rebuilding as many earthquakes left their marks on the project Following Peru’s independence from Spain in 1826, the building was handed over to the treasury and used for private housing Today, two thirds of the original monastery correspond to Cirqa Breakfast, lunch, & dinner are served in Cirqa’s sole restaurant, which comprises an indoor dining room and an outdoor terrace The contemporary dining room combines a casual sitting area with a monastic dining room and a large fireplace The terrace offers an open space sitting & dining area with a comfortable feel and cozy fire pits During my visit at Cirqa, I stayed in this Boveda Room, a magnificent bedroom that recalls ancient Parador times The room is outfitted with sculptural wooden furnishings, linens in earthy hues, and contemporary fixtures The open-plan ensuite bathroom features a stand-alone bathtub, a cabin with a walk-in shower and a separate lavatory The room’s architectural highlight are the large glass windows that have been inserted into the century-old arches Cirqa Hotel features 11 exquisite rooms, centered around the hotel’s main terraza and patio Let’s have a look in another room type Each room embodies a timeless homage to the monastery and features its own unique characteristics All rooms include a Smart TV with DirecTV & Netflix, A/C, organic amenities, & a complimentary snacks-and-drinks hamper The hotel features some beautiful communal areas, where guests can enjoy relaxing moments after a day of sightseeing At the heart of the hotel is a lovely patio with a small heated plunge pool, which is open from sunrise to sunset Right next to the patio is a beautiful spa room with a vaulted ceiling, where treatments are offered by therapists upon request One of the hotel’s highlights is its rooftop terrace lounge The rooftop terrace’s design resembles the structure of the first Arequipenean road-stops At these road-stops, travelers from all around would gather to drink & eat traditional food before continuing their journey Cirqa Hotel is a member of Relais & Châteaux Founded in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is a premier collection of independent luxury restaurants and properties around the world Today, R&C includes more than 580 hotels & restaurants who aim to offer exceptional travel experiences In order to meet the exacting standards of R&C, each property must pass a rigorous inspection process Let's have dinner at Cirqa's dining room The chef - Maria Fé García - pays tribute to her grandmother's recipes while intermingling definitive flavors into the dishes Each morning, breakfast is served in Cirqa's dining room Cirqa Hotel is just one block from Arequipa’s main square, Plaza de Armas, so it is perfectly located for sightseeing More than 500 colonial-era houses in the historic center - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - takes visitors back to another time Arequipa's beautiful cathedral - constructed between 1540 and 1656 - features an ornate façade in the Baroque style With its vast collection of historical pieces, the cathedral is definitely worth a visit Iglesia de la Compañía Church is another reminder of the glorious religious legacy left by colonists and Jesuit priests Arequipa is known as the White City because of its architecture, built with white volcanic stone, called sillar With nearly perfect weather year-round, Arequipa boasts 300 days of sunshine, low humidity, and nice temperatures Arequipa's San Camilo Market is a remarkable place to explore, offering all sorts of goods and food for sale Arequipa's most famous site is Monasterio Santa Catalina The still-functioning Santa Catalina Monastery, constructed in 1579, is like a city within a city The cloisters, gardens, chapels, and kitchens offer a glimpse into what life was like for the nuns who called this place home Arequipa counts several excellent art galleries Churches are among Arequipa's most beautifully preserved buildings (the population still practices the Catholic religion)
2024-11-15 01:22
