The water wheel
Still turning.
Santiagostucchi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sjoerd van Wijk — Public domain · Hugovisor — CC BY-SA 4.0
A colonial stone mill built in 1621 of volcanic sillar in Arequipa's green countryside, when wheat and bread became staples of the young Spanish city. Its wheel still turns with water from a small channel, and the millstones inside grind grain as they did four centuries ago. The building is small and lovely, with thick walls of grey and white stone, set among gardens and green lawns running up to old farming terraces on the hills. Behind the whole scene stand El Misti volcano and Pichu Pichu under the blue sky. Llamas and alpacas graze on the grass, making for photos with the volcano behind. You can go inside to see the milling mechanism, walk among the gardens and channels, and sit in the shade. Arequipa «countryside» tours stop at the mill along with the area's old villages and lookouts. It is a short, quiet visit that suits families, best in the morning when the mountains are clear.
Still turning.
On the lawns.
Behind the mill.
Sabandía district, about 8 km south-east of central Arequipa
Yes: its wheel turns with water power and you can see the millstones inside. A visit takes under an hour.