Moquegua, Regional capital in southern Peru.
Moquegua is a regional capital in southern Peru located in the Moquegua River valley between the Andes and coastal desert. The city spreads across several hillsides, with the historic center arranged around a broad main square lined with shady trees and low colonial buildings.
The area was inhabited by Wari and Tiwanaku cultures before Spanish conquest, and their ruins remain visible in the surrounding region. Spanish settlers founded the present town in the 16th century and developed wine cultivation and agriculture throughout the valley.
Residents continue to grow grapes and practice the tradition of pisco distilling in small bodegas visible around town. Families gather at the main square on Sundays and street vendors sell fresh fruit from nearby orchards and local pastries.
The town center is compact and walkable, with most attractions grouped within a few blocks of the main square. Morning and evening hours offer the most comfortable temperatures for walking around the city and visiting nearby vineyards.
The main square displays a 19th-century fountain designed by Gustave Eiffel, who also created the famous tower in Paris. Water flows through several tiers of cast iron basins shipped from Europe to Peru.
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