I didn't know much about Arequipa before going to Peru - even though it's the country's second largest city. In the end, it was a really pleasant surprise. I loved the feel of the place - the historic centre was very relaxed and had a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. The old buildings felt authentic and well integrated into their modern uses.

The scenery around Arequipa is stunning too and it's so nice to have the mountains on the horizon. Although obviously not related to the WHS listing, I would add that Arequipa is a great base to do some trips into the natural surroundings - Colca Canyon and so on, and definitely worth a stay in the region for a little while.