Goyeneche Palace

This massive building on your left belongs today to the Central Reserve Bank of Peru. But don’t worry—you won’t need a healthy bank balance to step inside. Admission is completely free.

And instead of vaults stuffed with cash, you’ll find a different kind of treasure: thirty-seven colonial paintings, precious 17th-century woodwork rescued from termites, and even two canvases attributed to the great Spanish master Francisco de Goya. You’re looking at the Palacio de Goyeneche. Get ready to step into the historic home of the man the local press once called “the richest bishop in South America.” The Goyeneche family, of Basque nobility, possessed one of the largest fortunes in the region.

When they rebuilt their palace around 1840, they went all out and hired one of the star architects of the day: Lucas Poblete. Sound familiar? It should—he’s the same architect who redesigned the famous Cathedral Basilica on the Plaza de Armas.

Now take a look at the grand entrance in front of you. Arequipa’s upper aristocracy liked to make their status clear, and this vaulted arch was designed so that an armed horseman could ride proudly through it without even having to dismount. So go ahead—cross the threshold with your head held high and enjoy your own grand entrance into the world of Arequipa’s aristocracy.