The second-largest city in Peru, Arequipa is also known as the ‘white city’, since the most important colonial buildings were built of white volcanic rock (ashlar) from a nearby quarry. In 2000 the city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Both Spanish colonial and Andalusian influences are visible everywhere. Especially remarkable is the Santa Catalina Convent – a beautiful ‘city within a city’. Other highlights include the Casa del Moral (House of the Mulberry Tree), with its elegant wrought-iron windows and sculptured portico and the Casa de la Moneda (the former mint). Arequipa is a great place for hiking and mountaineering expeditions with daily excursions to the Cotahuasi and Colca Canyons, one of the deepest in the world. El Misti is a relatively easy climb and river rafting is becoming popular in the area.