Modern Pisac is a picturesque Andean Village, typical except for the huge, spreading pisonary tree that dominates the central square. The village is best known for its Sunday market, which draws hundreds of tourists each week. In spite of its popularity the market retains much of its local charm, at least in the part where villagers from miles around gather to barter and sell their produce. In the tourist section of the market you can buy a wide variety of handicrafts - mostly the same things you see in Cusco. Many of the guide books state that handicrafts are cheaper than Cusco but in recent years I haven't noticed much difference in price. My advice is if you like something in Cusco, buy it! And likewise in Pisac. Don't wait around hoping you'll find it a few dollars cheaper elsewhere. Pisac is a good place to buy the local ceramics including a huge and varied collection of hand-painted multi-colored beads. There are smaller markets in Pisac on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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The Cathedral dominates the north-east side of the Plaza de Armas and sits squarely on the foundations of the Inca Viracocha's palace. The Cathedral was begun in 1550 and completed nearly 100 years later, constructed in the shape of a Latin cross. The three-aisled nave is supported by only fourteen massive pillars. It contains nearly 400 colonial paintings including the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata showing Christ and the Apostles about to dine on guinea-pig, washed down with a glass of chicha! In the sacristy there's a painting of the crucifixion attributed to Van Dyke. Ten smaller chapels surround the nave, with the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, and the Chapel of El Señor de los Temblores (The Lord of Earthquakes) are worthy of special attention.
Lima's principal church is as old as the city itself although it was rebuilt after being seriously damaged by earthquakes in the 17th and 18th Centuries. The facade contains statues of the apostles and the central niche holds a representation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Inside, are altars in the baroque, rococo and neoclassical styles, paintings and sculptures from the 17th Century and 18th Century, as well as a carved choir stalls which are a superb example of colonial Spanish-American art. During the week there are guided tours of the cathedral and its museum, which contains notable art works from the colonial period. The remains or Francisco Pizarro, a number of cardinals and a saint are also jealously guarded within.
Leaving the cathedral and walking down the right side of the Presidential Palace takes you to the corner where the city's oldest bar (1905) "El Cordano" is located opposite Desamparados railway station where a monthly train leaves for the central highlands. Round the corner and a few blocks further on is the convent or San Francisco, better known for its catacombs tha for its collection of colonial-era art. This side of the city has other attractions such as Parque de la Muralla, Peru's Congress and Chinatown.
The Convent is dedicated to the image of Our Lady of the Rosary and contains the remains of Peru's most popular saints: St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres, whose altars are visited by large numbers of the faithful.
Impressive pre-Inca monuments can be found in the middle of the city, such as Huaca Huallamarca, a pyramidal structure typical of sacred pre-Hispanic buildings on the Peruvian coast; or Huaca Pucllana, built in the 4th Century B.C., as a ceremonial centre of the ancient Lima Culture. These are located in San Isidro and Miraflores.