Visit the City

Elegance, Distinction and Discretion

Lima, capital of Peru, is practically at sea level and has a population of around eight million inhabitants.

More than four centuries have passed since its foundation by the Spanish - when it was also known as the "City of Kings" - but Lima has preserverd it original beauty and charm. For this reason it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Observing the characteristics of its traditional balconies while strolling round the Historic Centre is to go back in time to viceregal Lima, capital of the largest and wealthiest viceroyalty on the continent.

The Main Square

With this in mindd let us start our tour in the beautiful Main Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace, the cathedral, the Municipality and the Club de la Union. In the centre is a fountain dating from the middle of the 17th Century.

The Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace, residence of the President of Peru is often referred to the Casa de Pizarro as it is where Pizarro lived after founding the city in 1535. on the same site Taulichusco governed the River Rimac valley, his power based on his control of the water which irrigated land throughout the valley. Visits are free of charge but have to be arranged two days in advance.

The Cathedral

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.

Desamparados Station

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.

Convent of Santo Domingo

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.

Other important attractions: Plaza san Martin, Parque Universitario and the San Marcos Cultural Centre, the Torre Table Palace, The Riva Aguero Institute, The Casa del Oidor and the Aliaga Mansion, the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition and the convents of La Merced and Santa Rosa.

Museums

Like in the great cities of the World, Lima is home of the most important museums that display the best collections of Ancient Peru art. Two of them are situaded in the district of Pueblo Libre: Museo Nacional de Arqueologia y Antroplogia, with a wonderful display of Pre-Inca and Inca Textiles, ceramics and mummies; and Museo Larco, which holds the most important collection of Gold and Jewelry from Ancient Peru. The two museums are not distant from each other and they can be easily visited by following a pedestrian blue line that connects them. In the district of San Borja ther is the Museo de la Nacion, with a variety of halls displaying representations of Pre-Inca and Inca Cultures, including a life-size replica of the world famous Tomb of the Lord of Sipan. The MALI, in Lima downtown has an extraordinary peruvian art collection.

Burial Mounds

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.

Miraflores and Barranco

Miraflores and Barranco, with their modern pubs and discos also provide part of Lima's night life. Apart from its fine parks and squares, Miraflores hosts open-air shows and entertainment centers with a view ot the sea. And as far as Barranco is concerned, its bohemian atmosphere makes it one of the essential destinations for visitors to metropolitan Lima. Its "Bridge of Sighs" is the place for nostalgia and romance.