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Santa Catalina de Guadalcazár. This was the Spanish name
for this town wedged in the heart of one of the most fertile
valleys along the south Peruvian coast. Thanks to a benign
climate, the Conquerors succeeded in planting sprawling
vineyards and raking in abundant harvests. In the final
years of the colonial era, the city changed its name to
Moquegua, the same as the department where it is located.
Moquegua then began to develop progressively into one of
the country's leading agricultural areas.
Famous for its wines and pisco (grape brandy), Moquegua
features many attractions for visitors: its main square
features a fountain designed by French architect Gustave
Eiffel, while in the Iglesia Mayor church the faithful worship
Santa Fortunata, a martyr from the early days of Christianity.
Heading deeper into the department, visitors will find unique
provinces such as Torata, where the houses still feature
picturesque old-fashioned roofs overshadowed by imposing
stone mills, or Ilo, the main port on Peru's south coast.
Throughout the department one can order patasca (a hearty
soup of corn, mint and giblets), chupe de camarones (shrimp
stew) or the delicious local desserts such as manjarblanco
(a creamy dairy paste), the alfajor de penco pastry and
the local corncakes called tortas de maíz. All this
comes together to create a mix of aromas and flavors that
make Moquegua simply unforgettable.
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