The San Francisco de Arequipa Cathedral ("Catedral San Francisco de Arequipa", in Spanish) is located in the "Plaza de Armas" of the city of Arequipa, province of Arequipa, Peru. It is the most important temple of the city and Diocesis of Arequipa since it is the base of the Archibishop and Metropolitan council. The cathedral is also considered one of Peru's most famous colonial cathedrals since the Spanish conquest.

Timeline

August 15, 1540: This is the date in which the city was founded by Garcí Manuel de Carbajal. The temple started construction on this very date. In the "Act of Foundation" of Arequipa, it can be read: "...in the name of its majesty Governor Francisco Pizarro, founded the beautiful village in the valley of Arequipa, in the Collasuyo section, above the river edge, in his name he put the cross, in the location signaled for the Church; He put the pike in the Plaza of the village, which he stated would do in the name of its majesty..."

February 14, 1544: The representatives of the Council, Justice and Directorate of the city signed a contract with the builder Pedro Godínez, then regent of the city and commender of San Juan Bautista de Characato, and the carpenters Juan Rodríguez y Gregorio Álvarez to build the church.

September 23, 1544: Miguel Cornejo, the Mayor of the City, assigned the building of the portal to the master Toribio de Alcaraz, who agreed to build it using white petrified volcanic lava. The church is build with 2 main sections.

January 22, 1583: An earthquake destroyed the church to rubble.

1590: It is decided to rebuild again the main church, and this is assigned to Gaspar Báez, who is helped by several Spanish officials and many hundreds of "Mitayo" indians. The new design would have 3 sections, arcs and vaults of brick.

1600: When construction was almost finished, the violent eruption of the Huaynaputina Volcano (also known as Quinistaquillas and Omate), together with several earthquakes and a rain of ash, destroyed part of the structure.

1604: Another earthquake completely destroyed what was remaining of the structure.

1609: The Bula of Pope Paul V created the Arequipa Diocesis, separating it from the one in Cuzco. The Arequipan Catholics had gotten very poor because of the Volcano eruption, but decided to rebuild the temple.

January 27, 1621: Mr. Andrés de Espinoza was assigned the contruction of the temple.

1628: Espinoza died.

1656: The construction of the temple was finished. It had 3 sections, 180 feet long by 84 feet wide, 8 pillars, 5 chapels, 22 arcs, 15 brick vaults.

1666: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

1668: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

1687: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

1784: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

December 1, 1844: There was a big fire in the temple. The fire destroyed several parts of the church and many paintings, sculptures and furniture pieces, as well as several vaults and pillars.

December 15, 1844: Reconstruction works started, under the direction of the Bishop José Sebastián de Goyeneche y Barreda, and his brother Mariano de Goyeneche. Technical direction was under the architect Lucas Pobrete. A part of it was rebuilt over the old San Juan church (destroyed in 1784) and a 107 mt long by 40 mt high facade, which exists today, was made.

1850: The Bishop Goyeneche assigned the production of several jewelry pieces to adorn the temple to the Spanish jeweler Francisco de Moratilla, who was then jeweler of the Queen of Spain. The nephews of the Bishop gave the Cathedral the main altar (still exists today) which was installed by an italian architect of last name Guido.

1854: The clock of the tower, made in England, was installed. Also the music organ and 12 giant wood sculptures of the apostles, all made in Belgium.

1879: The pulpit, made at the shop of Buisine-Rigot in Lille, France, was installed. It was given to the church by Javiera Lizáraga de Alvarez Comparet.

August 13, 1868: A violent and long earthquake destroyed several parts of the Cathedral: The towers, part of the main portal, some of the facade arcs, some altars. In the following years, under the direction of Lucas Pobrete, the two towers and the facade arcs were rebuilt.

June 23, 2001: Southern Peru was rocked by an eartquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale on June 23, 2001.

August 15, 2002: On the anniversary of its foundation, the then Mayor Manuel Guillén finished the restoration of the towers.