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Tourist guide: what to do and see in Lima
A climate to attract everybody.
The weather conditions for enjoying a city have never been as good as they are in Lima! Its pleasant temperatures and scarce rainfall will let you enjoy the city at your leisure. With an incalculable heritage, a short distance from the city to the beaches and a native gastronomy with a strong Spanish influence, make Lima a place which is very simple to enjoy. You will have a great time, starting with a walk around its historic centre of the 16th century, passing by its grand array of monuments and architecture of the colonial period, as well as enjoying its close and fabulous beaches of “La Isla” and “El Silencio”, rounding off by enjoying a fresh and succulent ceviche in one of the many restaurants. The charm of Peru, rolled into one unique city!
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- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
Artesanía Las Pallas (Las Pallas Craftwork)
You'll sense the passion for Peruvian folklore in each and every one of the pieces on display or for sale.
The inquisitive Mary Solari.
The most surprising thing about the 'Artesanía Las Pallas' shopping centre is that it was born out of the inquisitiveness of Mary Solari, an Englishwoman who is passionate about Peruvian folklore and spent nearly three decades of buying artisan treasures from all over the country to then exhibit them in her house-museum, which is also a retail store too. If you find it in her shop, on 'calle Cajamarca' (Cajamarca Street), it's possible that she'll offer to tell you the stories of the parts it consists of, the characteristics of its artisans and where they come from. You'll find anthropomorphic sculptures in bright colours, collections of ceramics, which are reminiscent of pre-Hispanic settlers and fabrics and jewellery made from precious metals. Maybe the prices are a little higher than in other markets, but they're worth it since the owner travels every now and then to the indigenous communities in the region, ensuring that the objects that she buys and sells are authentic.
Mercado Dédalo (Dédalo Market)
Affordable prices for avant-garde art in all its forms and colours.
Bohemian and avant-garde.
If you love contemporary art, designer jewellery, new trends in clothing and decoration, as well as avant-garde art in all disciplines, you can't leave Lima without visiting the 'Mercado Dédalo', synonym of bohemia in the district of Barranco. As the representatives of the best Peruvian designers go round their premises, nobody would say that the origin of this great art market is in the garage of María Elena Fernández, the gallery owner who is responsible for the project. What began as a place where contemporary handicrafts could be sold to friends, is now a large shopping centre where you can see what the latest designers are producing and at affordable prices. This market has Peruvian fabrics of pure cotton and alpaca mix with original catwalk jewellery and a corner dedicated to relaxing between each purchase, known as the patio of 'Dédalos', where you can enjoy a coffee with a sandwich.
Galería Artesanal San Francisco (San Francisco Handmade Gallery)
Here you'll find the most amazing and varied things but at a very high price at which you'll have to negotiate.
Don't forget to haggle!
It's an understatement to say that 'prices are negotiable' in the 'Gallery Artesanal San Francisco', which is a group of business premises located in the historic centre, near the Church 'Iglesia de San Francisco'. Due to the massive influx of tourists, prices are inflated at first, but haggling is permitted and it's even recommended. The advantage of this trading environment is that you'll find all the country's handicraft, including from remote regions, in the same place and that they also accept other currencies such as the Euro, the Argentinean peso and the dollar. The most interesting thing about this craft centre is that you can find varied and rare items like small religious antique cards, postcards of the Lima of yesteryear, coins and banknotes suitable for collectors, unique pieces of jewellery, artisan glass and mirror, which are all mixed on the premises with classic souvenirs of wood, clay and fabrics.
Jirón de la Unión (Jirón de la Unión Street)
The bustle of shops and restaurants where you can spend a tiring day.
Jironear' (getting dressed up to go and socialize with intellectuals and artists on this street) isn't fashionable anymore.
What was the most aristocratic street of the city at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the twentieth century, 'Jirón de la Unión', is now a pedestrian avenue of large shopping centres and establishments where you can taste the typical food of Peru. Apparently, the layout dates back to the time of the conqueror Pizarro, who ordered its distribution and even arranged where to place the 'Cabildo' (the town council), on the same piece of land where you can see it today. Around the 'Jirón' there used to be other streets that made reference to the merchants who settled in them, such as the 'calle Mercaderos' (Merchants Street) or 'calle Espaderos' (Swordsmith Street, which is called 'Block 5' nowadays), where daggers and swords were produced and sold from the 18th century. If up to 1950, it was fashionable to be dressed up and go socializing among intellectuals and artists who mixed with the cream of society, nowadays the walk is more humble and less aristocratic where you can simply spend an afternoon shopping.
Bioferia de Miraflores (Miraflores Biofair)
Would you like mate, pure grains of cacao, medicinal herbs or vegetables? Voilà! You have found the best in the region.
Homemade remedies.
Did you know that the Indian concoction "Aceite de Sacha Inchi" (Oil of Sacha Inchi, which means strength of the Forest) is one of the oils with a higher percentage of Omega 3 or that mate fights asthma? And that Chewing pure cocoa grains is good for teeth? The farmers and horticulturists who participate in the 'Bioferia de Miraflores' will tell you all this in a street market, which is the organic heart of the city and takes place every Saturday morning. The prices are not cheap, but in exchange you'll have the healthiest fruits, vegetables, and even traditional medicinal herbs of the region, which are organically cultivated. The large influx of local buyers makes it very difficult to walk around the market at midday, so it's advisable to go first thing on Saturday morning. Goat cheese, nuts and handmade sweets are among the most popular products.
Casa de la Mujer Artesana Manuela Ramos (The Manuela Ramos Womens Artisan Centre)
You'll like their dearly loved ancestral and local handicrafts that are handmade by Quechua and Aymara women.
Power to the women.
If you want to take back lovely souvenirs from Peru, the best option is to help promote local arts and crafts made by women who are possibly those who need more support, in order to be integrated into the market. To do this, you can visit the 'Casa de la Mujer Artesana Manuela Ramos’, which has been operating since 1993 as a revitalizing force of local commerce. Here you'll be able to find dolls made of wool and other fabrics, ponchos, shawls, scarves, purses and other decorative objects that recover the ancient craft of the women from quechua and aymara de Puno, among other regions. It is estimated that around 900 families will benefit from each project that this association starts and most of all, the great value of handicrafts made by Peruvian women is recognized, to whom the association teaches weaving and how to sell their small works of art, in order to be free from poverty.
Miraflores Indian Market
A colourful and lively market where light haggling is acceptable.
Traditional shopping.
The colours, the contagious happiness and Peruvian vitality all come together in the Indian Market located in Miraflores, where you can deal directly with craftspeople without middlemen or commissions, and even have the possibility to haggle for some products. But remember that this is not an Arab souk: you'll only be able to knock off two or three 'soles' (one euro), more or less. Among the items you'll find here, those that stand out are the baskets, bags and backpacks made by hand, pieces of llama skin, upholstery embossed with typical Peruvian scenes, hats and jackets woven with alpaca, bracelets made of the typical Cuzco blanket and decorative objects made in wood or clay which are delicately painted. The Indian Market of Lima offers you the best traditional purchases as well as a perfect place to watch the craftspeople working in front of you.
Barrio Chino (Chinatown)
The mixture of Chinese and local flavours has a surprising result that's worth tasting.
Chifa' food.
One of the curiosities of multiculturalism in Lima is their way of naming the mix between Chinese and Peruvian food: chifa food (originating from how the 'limeños' (people from Lima) used to say the expression 'chi fan', which is 'eat rice'), which mixes foreign flavours with local products in a surprising combination. The best place to immerse yourself into the eastern world, as if you had suddenly changed country, is to visit the city's Chinatown, which is a touristic and commercial centre. Crowds are common in this area so it's best to watch your wallet and not to carry valuable items. In order to enter Chinatown, you'll have to cross the so-called 'Arco' (arch) or 'Portada China' (Chinese facade), inaugurated in the seventies and restored at the end of the twentieth century, which will lead you into a street where the street peddlers intermingle with the neon lights and the imported goods shops.
Centro Comercial Larcomar (Larcomar Shopping Centre)
Shops, cinema, theatre, restaurants, kids entertainment... a very complete and tempting plan!
We have a good plan.
Can you imagine enjoying a day of shopping, cinema and a traditional Peruvian dinner with views of the sun setting over the waters of the Pacific? The grand Larcomar Shopping Centre is located in a privileged place by the shores of the sea, so your shopping day will be a unique opportunity to enjoy all the pleasures of leisure in the same building. The 12 cinema auditoriums and the Larcomar Theatre Centre compete with their programming (from the latest blockbusters to the Moscow Ballet), but you'll also find children's games to entertain the kids, a bowling alley, disco and a wide variety of restaurants to recharge your energy after a day of shopping. Among the large range of products in its 80 shops, you'll surely find everything you look for, from typical Peruvian gifts, fashion and jewellery, to beauty salons and cosmetics.
Interactive Museum of Science and Technology
Children will have a blast in this museum where science and technology become a mere game.
Imagination Park.
If you are traveling with children, a place that is both interesting and fun is the so-called 'Imagination Park', where the Interactive Museum of Science and Technology is located. The objective of this museum is to publicize the laws of physics, nature and mechanics, among others, in a tour of eight rooms with interactive games that explain in a practical way the reasons for these laws. In this way, the little ones will understand how the weight of a person can be lifted through the work of the pulleys, they will be subjected to an earthquake simulator, to know what to do in case of living one, they will check the consequences of the deforestation of the Amazon forest. .. In total there are eight modules divided into 100 games, such as the surprising electric chair that is activated by pedaling a bicycle.
Museo de la Inmigración Japonesa (Museum of the Japanese Immigration)
You'll soak yourself in 'Japoperuvian' culture and you'll realize the great importance that it has for the country.
Japanese and Peruvian relations.
The Japanese emigrants who arrived in Peru at the beginning of the twentieth century also have their own museum, which exhibits the close relationship between both communities and the migration phenomenon between them. The 'Museo de la Inmigración Japonesa' (known as 'Carlos Chiyoteru Hiraoka' in honour of a Japanese businessman) opened its doors in 1981 to commemorate the arrival of oriental immigrants in Peru. Initially he began his collection with objects, tools, photographs and museum items that were directly imported from Japan. Over the years, the donations from the 'Japoperuvian' families have been forming the actual permanent and temporary exhibitions, which analyze the relations between the two communities since the Second World War, the evolution of the two cultures through the 20th century and the Dekassegui phenomenon, i.e. the return of the descendants of emigrants to Japan when the crisis hit Latin America.
Museo de Cerebros (Brain Museum)
Would you like to see the state of a brain after consuming drugs? You can see it here with your own eyes!
300 brains in sight!
A suitable exhibition for the brave or for those interested in science, located in the unusual 'Museo de Cerebros' in Lima, which as its name indicates, contains the brain matter of more than 300 human brains that were damaged by diseases or addictions. Another 2,880 are guarded in its deposit, extracted from authorized autopsies that were conducted from 1942 to the present day. The content of the visit is primarily educational and scientific as well as being much stronger than an anti-drug campaign, considering that it bluntly shows the damages that drugs do to the brain, with examples of aneurysms, tumours, foetuses with malformations and spinal cords. This stunning collection welcomes visitors with the head of a 60 year-old man with half of his face and hair while his other half reveals his bones and brain. They warn you that one or two people faint during the visit each month.
Museo de los Combatientes del Morro de Arica' (Arica Cape Combatants Museum)
Discover the bloody history of the assault and capture of the Arica Cape of 1880.
Peruvians against Chileans.
A collection of war stories such as those contained in the 'Museo de los Combatientes del Morro de Arica' could only be placed in the home of the ‘Colonel Francisco Bolognesi’, where this military hero was born, named Grand Marshal of Peru and Coronel of his army. The Museum is dedicated to a particular fact which is the known assault and capture of the Arica Cape in 1880 between Peruvians and Chileans in a savage battle that left almost 500 dead Chileans and 700 Peruvians. The collection includes a cannon in the defence of the Arica Cape, military uniforms, photographs, pictures and personal belongings of Bolognesi and his family. The Museum also pays tribute to the 16 year-old soldier boy ‘Alfredo Maldonado Arias’, who cried 'I don't surrender', while he set fire to the Citadel fort's munitions dump, causing an explosion in which he died along with his fellow Peruvian countrymen, and the Chilean enemies who demanded him to surrender.
Museo de Bodega y Quadra (Bodega Y Quadra Museum)
By visiting this museum, you'll get an idea of how they lived during the Peruvian republican period.
Here lived Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.
If you want to visit an authentic house of the Peruvian Republican period, the best preserved site of this era is the 'Museo de Bodega y Quadra', that's located in what was the dwelling of the sailor 'Juan Francisco de la Bodega and Quadra', a member of the Spanish Armada who lived during the 18th century and discovered Vancouver Island. You could say that the building contains several museums in one: on the top floor, there's a re-creation of a colonial house with objects and documents of that period that belong to the family. But in the basement, you'll find a surprising archaeological site which has discovered the remains of a house before the pre-Hispanic period, with elements ranging from pieces of gold, Ming ceramics and wood carvings to remains of the 16th to the 18th centuries. The well and the pantry of the house also make up the archaeological set that will surprise you without doubt.
Museo de Arte Italiano (The Museum of Italian Art)
Interesting 'Bramante' Italian style influences and an interesting programme for blind people, check it out!
A gift from Italy.
Peru has the cultural and economic support of the foreign communities that are established in the country, and so the 'Museo de Arte Italiano', proposed by the Italian Gino Salochi as a gift from the Italian community to Lima was to mark the celebration of the centenary of the independence of the country in 1921. The building has influences of the renaissance architect 'Bramante', the creator of St. Peter's Basilica, decorated with mosaics and heraldry of the main Italian regions, as well as a spectacular stained-glass window that is reminiscent of 'The Spring' by Botticelli. The collection that it contains has been formed by donations from patrons with important artistic representatives of the 20th century onwards. One of its curiosities is the 'Programa de visita guiada para invidentes' (Guided Tour Programme for the Blind), which for the first time in Lima and since 1998, allows blind visitors to touch - with special gloves - exhibited sculptures in the collection.
Fundación Museo Amano (Amano Museum Foundation)
This museum exists thanks to the Japanese archaeologist known as 'Amano', who worked at restoring archaeological remains with his own hands.
You'll be amazed.
La Fundación Museo Amano' has a surprising origin: the tenacity and the hobby of a Japanese businessman settled in Peru, named 'Yoshitaro Amano'. He travelled all over the country during the middle of the twentieth century to look for pre-Columbian archaeological remains in order to restore them by hand in his house, trusting that someday they could be exposed to the Peruvian society in this way. Reports inform that the gravediggers of the tombs were warned to conserve parts that were apparently less valuable than the jewels: "when you find ceramics or looms, do not destroy them: here comes a crazy Japanese man who pays for them". This was how the 'Museo Amano' was born and opened in 1964 with about five thousand pre-Hispanic objects and a new discovery: the Chancay civilization (from the 12th to the 15th centuries A.D.), which had gone unnoticed by the Peruvian archaeologists, and was discovered by Mr. Amano as a result of his independent research.
Museo Prehispánico Hernán Amat Olazábal (The Hernán Amat Olazábal Pre-Hispanic Museum)
This museum boasts the professionalism of many archaeologists and researchers, taking 'Amat Olazábal' as an example.
In the purest style of Indiana Jones.
If you want to know how were the adventures of archaeologists and researchers that have been excavated in Peru, the best audiovisual tour of this generation of scientists is in the 'Museo Prehispánico Hernán Amat Olazábal', which is located in the district of 'Villa el Salvador'. The museum is named after the great Peruvian archaeologist who was responsible for the findings related to the pre-Inca culture ‘Chavín’ (developed around 1500 BC), as well as numerous investigations on the pre-Hispanic civilizations of that period. In this Museum, which has been in operation since 2001, you can explore various sections such as the one dedicated to ‘Machu Picchu’ with infographics and pictographs relative to the advanced ‘Moche’ civilization (from the second to the seventh centuries AD), including a reproduction of the regalia of the ‘Moche’ chief who was named 'Señor de Sipán' (Lord of Sipán), as well as a video library which brings together the documentaries based on the excavations and their discoveries.
National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History
We are in front of the oldest and most important museum in Lima. The archaeological x-ray that he makes of the country is downright interesting.
The Peruvian past.
quick and convenient way to learn about Peru's authentic past without leaving Lima is to visit the city's National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History. It is considered the oldest and most important museum in Peru, founded in 1822, and whose exhibitions only show a small part of what is actually preserved in its museum restoration rooms. The museum contains an extensive collection that includes different types of bone remains and mummies, vessels, ceramics, and rudimentary weapons that date back to 12,000 BC and that x-ray the country through the archaeological remains found in its deposits. A section dedicated to pre-Columbian art explains the characteristics of this society, through its objects, as well as its spiritual and decorative evolution from the original beliefs to the conversion to Christianity.
Museo de Arte de Lima (Lima Museum of Art)
The museum's neo-renaissance aspect is a complete cultural example and its mission is to bring art nearer to the general public.
MALI.
One of the cultural references of the city, the 'Museo de Arte de Lima' (MALI), combines its inner artistic wealth with a neo-renaissance palatial architecture that dates back to the 19th century and was already born with the aim of bringing art to the general public. The Exhibition Palace was built in 1871 with the iron mark of the Eiffel school of París and with the aim of hosting a collection inside that imitates the grand European universal exhibitions of the time. This is how the 'Gran Muestra de Arte, Ciencias e Industrias', (Grand Display of Art, Science and Industries), was made known and commemorated 50 years of Peru's independence. For a century, the Palace served as an art school, barracks, a hospital, and a parliament and council, until finally in 1953, it went back to prepare itself to be the art museum, which was its original purpose.
Machu Picchu
Don't miss 'Machu Picchu' for anything in the world. The king of the Peruvian musts will not disappoint you at all.
The lost city of the Incas.
Would you be able to travel to Peru and not to step on Machu Picchu? Centuries of ancestral culture, nature in its purest state and an unforgettable experience are unbeatable arguments to understand that this trip is worth it. The great distance that separates it from Lima is no excuse for not visiting it: you can take a domestic flight between the capital city and Cuzco that only lasts an hour and a half. From Cuzco, you can set off to Machu Picchu on an unforgettable three-hour train journey, both for its landscapes and the cultural exchange with the locals who make that same journey to the town of 'Aguas Calientes', where you can eat and even look for accommodation if you want to rest there after the climb. The so-called lost city of the Incas is located at the top of the mountain, so you must acclimatize first and monitor the change in pressure and altitude sickness.
Chavín de Huántar
Escape to these archaeological remains that haven't been exploited by tourism and are full of mysterious stories.
A one-hour flight away.
If you want to visit a place which still isn't exploited by tourism and that's full of history and mysteries too, you can't miss the trip to the esoteric world of ‘Chavín de Huántar’ that's located near the town of Huaraz; an hour's flight away from Lima. These archaeological remains date back to the year 1500 BC, and more than just a small village, it was about a place of sacred worship which the farmers of that period used to go on a pilgrimage in order to consult an oracle. Among the pyramids, monoliths and mazes of ‘Chavín de Huántar’, priests used to live here permanently and they predicted droughts and rains during the year according to their observation of the stars and the behaviour of the animals. By means of a prior collection, they could help the pilgrims who came to the oracle in order to check the forecast.
Ciudad Sagrada de Caral (The Sacred City of Caral)
180 kilometres separate Lima from this archaeological wonder that has become a World Heritage Site. An interesting excursion.
An archaeological site.
One of the most amazing archaeological sites that you can visit in Peru is located at 180 kilometres from Lima: 'La Ciudad Sagrada de Caral', declared as an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. It's believed that their society - 5,000 BC – were living at the same time as civilizations such as the Egyptians and Mesopotamians and like those, organized by a system of sacred lineages. One of the curiosities of the Caral civilization was their interest in music, as shown by the instruments made with bones. To visit this site, you can contact the same team of archaeologists who work there and offer a tourist service, leaving from the 'Museo de la Nación' (The National Museum) in Lima to Caral. Transport, lunch and a guided tour included for 95 'soles' (Peruvian currency). The outings which may be reserved prior to departure are available on Saturdays and Sundays at 7.00 am and return to Lima at 8.30 pm.
Marcahuasi
The urban legends about this immense plateau are endless, discover them!
An enigmatic plateau.
For the more adventurous traveller, there's an exciting excursion, which is 80 kilometres northeast of Lima, beyond the picturesque village of 'Chosica' and deep into the Andes plateau, where you will find the enigmatic Marcahuasi. It's a granite plateau at 4,000 metres above sea level, where it is said that there are peculiar geomagnetic influences - including UFOs - and anthropomorphic formations in the mountains. The theories on these geological formations are different: is it simple erosion caused by the wind and stone sculptures of a lost civilization? To reach 'Marcahuasi' you can travel by bus to 'San Pedro de Casta', which lies at the foot of the peak (four hours on foot, or two by donkey), where you can stay before going up, in order for you to get acclimatized to the heights. It's in your interest to carry water, warm clothes and food: you'll find the immensity of this plateau only at the top.
Pantanos de Villa (The Swamps of Villa)
Wetlands, virgin land and a mixture of birds in this peaceful and natural refuge.
Good bye commotion!
A place to disconnect from the traffic and the hustle and bustle of the city is the 'Refugio de Vida Silvestre Pantanos de Villa' (The Villa Swamps Wildlife Refuge), about 2,000 hectares made up of wetlands and wilderness, located in the district of 'Chorrillos'. Its main interest is ornithological due to the extraordinary variety of native and migratory birds that stop in this sanctuary. But it's also worth a visit to the 'Pantanos de Villa' at dusk to watch how the last rays of sun reflect off the water that supply the wetlands, causing a characteristic of an ecosystem. During your visit, you can observe herons and grebes fishing, hummingbirds and even eagles. Although this area is naturally protected, it suffers more and more pollution from excessive urbanism and nearby factories, so you may want to visit it before its deterioration turns it into a memory.
Parque de la Exposición (Exhibition Park)
This park gives vital artistic importance to the city. Go for a short walk around it and you'll understand why.
Artistic centre.
The artistic centre of the city is curiously situated in the middle of a garden considering that the grand museums you can visit such as the Museum of Italian Art, the Metropolitan and the Museum of Art in Lima - are all in the surroundings of the 'Parque de la Exposición'. This park was opened in 1872 with the idea of hosting the Grand International Exhibition of Lima and from there, the 'Palacio de la Exposición' (The Exhibition Palace) was built. After overcoming centuries of recycling (it was a hospital and Peruvian quarters during the war with Chile and after the defeat, it was as a Chilean quarter), the idea of using the park for artistic purposes was taken up again in the twentieth century. At the present time, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll around its gardens, visit the museums nearby or admire the street artists who paint and sell in the vicinity.
Zoo-parque de las Leyendas (Legends Park Zoo)
As well as all kinds of animals, you'll find a lot of archaeology and science in this different zoo.
It's not just any zoo.
You'll need at least a whole day if you want to visit all that the 'Zoo-Parque de las Leyendas' has to offer. It's a scientific and archaeological spot of Lima where both children and adults of the family will be surprised. It's not the typical zoo with an aquarium and international and native species in recreated habitats, although it has this as well as an area of Botany. The 'Parque de las Leyendas' is primarily based on its archaeological unit, which in recent years, has been devoted to spread pre-Hispanic cultures through the results of excavations at the sites in the city. The Museum of the Ernst W. Middendorf site, which opened in 2003 in the same park, is part of the Maranga Archaeological Complex - with its usual pyramids and terraces of adobe - showing the discoveries of civilizations of more than two thousand years old.
Parque del Amor (The Love Park)
A romantic spot that's only suitable for people in love who like the sweetest and most cloying caresses.
Long kisses.
If your trip to Lima coincides with 14th February and you're there with your partner, you are in luck: you will be able to participate in the longest kiss competition where multitudes of people celebrate this event every year in the 'Parque del Amor', located near the promenade of Miraflores. The sculpture entitled “The Kiss”, by the Peruvian artist Victor Dolphin, dominates this stroll with views of the sunset over the Pacific and enough romantic and sweet dates on the benches that could take a diabetic out of a coma. This isn't your place if you're not in love as you'll come across young couples walking hand in hand, some taking photos with sunsets in the background and others who emulate the sculpted kiss and so on. Even if you take out all of this, it's still an extraordinary place with a great landscape.
Mirador del Cerro San Cristóbal (The Viewpoint of Cerro San Cristóbal)
Orange sunsets at 400 metres above sea level. An amazing view of Lima.
Panoramic views of the city.
For both clear days and orange sky sunsets, the excursion to the 'Mirador del Cerro San Cristobal' is a great occasion to see a panoramic view of Lima in all its magnitude. Located at 400 metres above sea level, the Hill is a destination for religious pilgrimages to visit its cross, which is supposed to have miraculous properties. You can start the ascent by simply walking up it or you can take a bus - called 'urbanitos' - these buses leave on weekends from the 'Plaza de las Armas' and do a touristic tour to the Hill for two dollars. At the top of the Hill, there's an explanatory museum of the place, which includes an exhibition of old photographs of the old Lima and recreations of common people, such as 'candle sellers' or the 'tapada limeña', a typical woman's dress in the 16th century that only left one eye uncovered.
Circuito Mágico de Agua (The Magic Water Circuit)
Spectacular and entertaining fountains which are suitable for wetting your feet, soaking yourself from top to bottom or simply to watch.
Soaked in fun.
Whether you're travelling with children or if you want to spend a day in the water and then sunbathe on the meadows, the 'Parque de la Reserva' where you find the 'Circuito Mágico de Agua', is the best proposal. The landscaping of the park started at the beginning of the 20th century with commemorative sculptures of the country's independence and other examples from the best Peruvian sculpture workshops. Its eight acres of gardens, fountains and neoclassical architecture suffered a period of neglect until the beginning of the 21st century, when it was decided that this greenbelt was to be recovered as the central touristic area. That was how the ‘Circuito Mágico de Agua’ was born, it opened in 2007 and holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest fountain complex in the world, within a public park. Fountains in which you can cool down, completely soak yourself and enjoy laser light shows at night or music and cybernetic shows that you can't miss.
Ayahuasca Restobar Lounge
Another restaurant included in the list of the top 50 in the world. Their cocktails are impressive.
Glamorous nights.
Opened in 2008, the 'Ayahuasca Restobar Lounge' has turned into an example of glamorous Peruvian nights in just a short time, finding itself among the top 50 restaurants in the world according to the San Pellegrino 2011 guide, which especially highlights cocktails in this establishment. The 'Ayahuasca' is located in a republican mansion of the end of the 19th century known as 'Mansión Berninzon', and to go through its door means to absorb the elegance of the period, combined with a loud decoration of shamanic influences and references to pre-Columbian ancestors. It contrasts the carefully planned combination of traditional furniture with avant-garde and ultramodern design; all this under neon lights with colourful walls and atmospheres that change if you go after work (from five to eight in the afternoon) or if you're looking for drinks accompanied with something to nibble, from eight in the afternoon to three in the morning.
Huaca Pucllana
Local cuisine with direct views of 'Huaca Pucllana' and its adobe pyramids. An entire show for your senses.
To dine surrounded by history.
If you want to sample the typical Peruvian cuisine in its surroundings of one the sacred sites of the fifth century, the best time of day to do so is at nightfall when the sun sets over centuries of history and land, while 'Huaca Pucllana' is left illuminated. The restaurant with the same name is located inside the site and you can daydream while you eat, either in the terrace or through the windows while you look out over the adobe pyramids where the ancestors of Lima used to go and consult the oracle and sacerdotal predictions. It's in your interest to book in advance for dining at 'Huaca Pucllana' and you can check to see if the nocturnal guides are still available which offer to take you walking around the ruins at a high price. The typical dishes range from the classic Peruvian braised ceviche, through to 'ají de gallina a la antigua' (a chicken dish).
Artístico Café Bistró
A bohemian and intellectual atmosphere in a space for international, avant-garde cuisine that is full of surprises.
In the 'Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima' (Contemporary Art Museum of Lima).
The 'Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Lima' doesn't only offer its space to visitors with an artistic interest; it also offers the bohemian 'Artístico Café Bistró', with a cosy terrace located in front of a wide stretch of gardens and ponds. In this part of Lima, you'll find that most of the students have a modern look, intellectuals with a book in hand, writers with their computers and quantities of tourists, participating in some of the special food days that this Bistro organizes. It's not just about gastronomy: due to the emblematic place where it's located, the experience has something more to offer. This is why the dishes of international avant-garde cuisine -not only Peruvian- stand out by tasting them at the side of performances and outdoor exhibitions, which are organized by the museum. Without doubt, it’s the best option to end a day of artistic tourism.
Twist Gourmet Burger Bar
Mini portions that allow you to try various dishes - their hamburgers will make you want to come back!
Tasty mini hamburgers.
Are you the sort of person who takes their time in choosing a hamburger? They make it easy for you in the Twist Gourmet Burger Bar: try all varieties in their miniature form, accompanied with a garnish of potatoes, vegetables or croquettes. Located in Barranco, near the beach, this burger bar combines an excellent selection of good meat with the most original range, accompanied with a selection of local and imported beer. Here, you'll find the classic mini burger, the 'Caprese' and Mexican with each of their sauces for you to decide which you'll choose the next time you come to this restaurant because its delicious choice and affordable prices will make you come back. Curiously, the burger bar usually participates in the artistic 'Noches en Blanco' (in which they keep the kitchen open until five in the morning) and the Lima Design Week with special hamburgers for the occasion.
Aromas Peruanos (Peruvian scents)
You can eat all you like here at a reasonable price. An interesting option to keep in mind.
Extensive buffet.
For those who eat lots and want to enjoy authentic, homemade Peruvian food without limits, there's also this option: the 'Aromas Peruanos' buffet, where you can help yourself to as much as you think you're able to eat, at an affordable price. Curiously, this restaurant stays open at different times of the day with different and special menus for breakfast and lunch. The creole breakfast, that could feed an army, is also made up of typical Peruvian dishes such as 'lomito al hugo con tacu-tacu' (boiled rice and vegetable stew with sauce), Catalan sausage, scrambled eggs with ham, a platter of cheese and cold meats, as well as the traditional bakery and handmade sweets. The dishes change and they're even more creative in the buffet lunch. There's also the possibility of trying the fusion and avant-garde cuisine if you choose the à la carte menu.
Saqra
It's cosy lounge verges on the surreal and magic. Intimate dinners accompanied by risottos, meats or 'bombitas dulces' (a Peruvian dessert). Highly recommended.
Free spirit cuisine.
The ‘Saqra’ restaurant which is located in 'Miraflores' defines itself as free spirit cuisine, and you won't totally get the idea until you go through the doors and enter into an dream-like world where magic, good taste and gastronomy are combined in their lounge and cosy terrace for more intimate dinners. No chairs or lamps are the same as the others and they make the most of recycling right down to the different glasses and bottles in which they serve you the drinks. The dishes are really surprisingly titled such as sweet fritters filled with pineapple caramel or doughnuts filled with fruit extract, both of which are the two most popular desserts according to diners. Their gastronomical delights range from the risotto with blue cheese to a whole variety of fish, through to creative seaweed salads or palm hearts, without forgetting their talent for flame-cooked meat.
Sargento Pimienta (Sergeant Pepper)
A fabulous bar with a rock atmosphere where you're sure to have a fantastic time.
Peruvian rock and roll.
Visitors from Lima and rock lovers can't miss 'Sargento Pimienta', one of the fabulous bars in the city located in the bohemian area of the Barranco district. All the classics that you don't know are played at high volume in half darkness and they are big names of Peruvian rock, 'pa que la pases chévere' (so that you have a great time), as the owners of the pub say. Their resident DJs take care of maintaining the rock atmosphere during the entire night ('Sargento Pimienta' also runs a festival known as the 'Día Internacional del Rock'), and also give way to international groups who go up on stage and offer big concerts of funk, soul and R&B. The seventies parties that are organized by this pub are fabulous so if you like this kind of atmosphere, don't forget to pack a sequin shirt in your suitcase.
La Mar Cebichería
Carefully prepared fresh sea and land produce by chef Anthony Vásquez, make up a ten out of ten menu.
Innovative seafood.
One of the internationally well-known Peruvian chefs, Anthony Vásquez, is in charge of the innovative dishes that 'La Mar Cebichería' offers you but are not suitable for those who are allergic to seafood, which is their main speciality. Just like their ancestors, the chefs in this restaurant prefer local produce; they are in direct contact with farmers and fishermen from the area who take fresh produce to their kitchen, directly from the vegetable patch and the sea. Their recipes also cover the gastronomic varieties of the region with seafood casseroles, the typical Peruvian 'tiraditos' (raw fish) and 'ajíes' (pepper) with potatoes and rices that are always strongly spicy. 'Los cebiches' (marinated fish or seafood) are the house speciality and they are not the only choice: they also offer typical soups such as the 'Levantamuertos', grilled food, appetizers for sharing, various rice dishes, pastas and traditional drinks of Peru like the 'pisco sour' cocktail.
Astrid y Gastón
You're at one of the best 50 restaurants in the world. Their dishes are real works of art.
High-level avant-garde cuisine
Considered as one of the fifty best restaurants in the world by the prestigious S. Pellegrino guide in 2011 (the equivalent to the Oscars of gastronomy), the franchise of the ‘Astrid y Gastón’ chain in the district of Miraflores will not disappoint you. It goes without saying that the prices and the quantity of food on the plates are directly related to the prizes and the haute cuisine. Nevertheless, it's considered as one of the best restaurants in Peru due to its exquisite approach and customer service, as well as its varied fusion cuisine, preparing dishes as if they were works of art on the table. It's advisable to book in advance because there's a considerable waiting list at weekends. If you want to enjoy a gourmet experience as an excuse to come on over to the most avant-garde Peruvian cuisine, this is your place.
La Locanda
Choose a formal look and come on over to the Swissôtel. Alfonso Candiott will turn your Peruvian-Mediterranean menu into a pleasant experience.
No trainers please.
The first thing that they warn you of in the 'La Locanda' restaurant, which is located in the Swissôtel, is that they only let you in if you are formally dressed, without the need to exaggerate but the casually dressed tourist look is prohibited. It's the only way you will be able to know the exquisite fusion menu of Peruvian-Mediterranean cuisine introduced by the maître Alfonso Candiotti; an emblematic personality who will make your lunch or dinner an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Set in an establishment where the atmosphere gives you a feeling of elegance and luxury (sculptures and rococo mirrors included), 'La Locanda' is perfect for a special occasion. Among its star dishes, the fish are a main feature (such as its lobster pots and the named 'cebiche fusión'), although the crunchy skin of young pig and meat that melts in your mouth, is also very popular among diners. Their wine and dessert menu will also surprise you.
Lunahuaná
Rafting, canoeing, trekking, horse trekking ... are you game?
Adventurers ... go for it!
If you're into big thrills, you can't miss out on this adventure activity proposition in the Valley of Lunahuaná, which is located at 182 kilometres to the southeast of Lima and is the nerve centre for campers and excursionists. The rapids of the river 'Río Cañete' are perfect to start rafting (which they call 'canotaje') and canoeing, as its calm currents during the whole year are due to its mild and stable climate. Tourists can even go with children down the river, navigating with the instructor every time, who will give advice in order to dodge the areas that aren't so safe. It's a good idea to take insect repellent and a change of clothes. In this valley of adventure sports, which is accessible via hiring private transport from the nearby village of 'San Vicente de Cañete', you can also practice 'palestra' (climbing on the climbing walls), horse trekking, trekking and visit the vineyards.
La Tarumba
Their acrobatics and staging are on par with the grand 'Circo del Sol'. Don't miss them.
Once upon a time there was a circus'.
An old-school circus-theatre show that has set up on the streets of Lima since the 80s and has become a national example. 'La Tarumba' is a good option either if you're travelling with children or if you want to check out independent Peruvian theatre. The reports are saying that the aerial and acrobatic shows in the tent of 'La Tarumba' are more comparable each time with the 'Circo del Sol' in recent years with spectacular staging and musical accompaniment. If you would like to learn from these grand circus masters after seeing one of their shows, 'La Tarumba' also offers a school with workshops for children, teenagers and adults where they teach acrobatics and juggling. Curiously, they also offer a coaching service for companies where they work with their employees, using the circus as a platform.
Las Brisas del Titicaca
This association surprises both locals and foreigners with a complete show of art and food.
Peruvian folklore.
If you want to know the dances and the typical attire of real Peruvian folklore accompanied by the experience of their traditional food, the best spot for spending a different night out is in the Cultural Association Brisas del Titicaca. It's about an establishment which offers a show and a restaurant located on 'calle Héroes de Tarapacá' (Héroes de Tarapacá street) which revolves around the country's regional dances, each one with its differences and characteristics. The artistic team usually participate in international tours and Peruvian celebrations for historic anniversaries too, as well as collaborating with folklore groups from other countries through the 'Martes Latinoamericanos' who organize the group. This show of art and food is bound to surprise both local tourists and foreigners with a menu that includes typical dishes such as 'chuño revuelto' (cheese with potatoes), pork scratchings or browned malaya (meat).
La Casa de Chocolate (The Cacao and Chocolate Museum)
This interactive museum with a shop and artisanal factory is chocolate paradise ... do you fancy a bite?
Do you like chocolate?
Let's imagine that chocolate doesn't come in bars or packaging and that we want to become master chocolatiers. There's no better place than Lima to do this, it's the birthplace of cacao with 'La Casa de Chocolate' located in the district of Miraflores which has an interactive museum, chocolate workshops and a delicatessen section all in one place for the people with the sweetest of teeth. This 'Chocomuseum' project also works in other cities in Nicaragua and Peru with the idea of letting the public see the whole process of chocolate manufacturing. From basic ideas of its cultivation, there are two-hour express workshops for turning cacao beans into little chocolate figures and provide some basic knowledge for being able to surprise others with delicious and healthy recipes with less preservatives and colourings than you would find in an industrial product. If you'd like to take an original chocolate gift back with you, there's also a café where they sell chocolate products too.
Puente de los Suspiros (The Bridge of Sighs)
Do you believe in eternity? Cross the bridge with your partner and lock a padlock to the bridge. You'll both be together forever!
Wishes granted.
As the tradition goes, if you cross the 'Puente de los Suspiros' for the first time without breathing and reach the other side, you can make a wish and it will be granted. It's only 30 metres long for joining Ayacucho Street with Ermita Street but it's advisable to take in a breath of air. Another tradition, which has become fashionable lately is the idea that, if you are travelling with your partner and leave a padlock locked to the bridge, you'll both be together forever. But first you'll have to find a space on the railing which will be an even harder challenge. The 'Puente de los Suspiros' was built in 1876 and has suffered hard times such as its blasting by Chilean troops during the Pacific War as well as an earthquake in 1940 which forced its restoration. Nowadays, it's one of the favoured spots for lovers due its beautiful scenery and where street musicians usually appear at sunset.
Cicloturismo Perú (Touring Peru by Bicycle)
Interesting tours on wheels with food stops included.
Peddling around Peru.
A different way to get to know Lima can be on a four-hour bike ride which is a tour from the hotel around all the backstreets and touristic places in the city with food stops included. 'Cicloturismo Perú' offers you easy going tours so that you can go around the historic centre at your own pace and with a guide who will show you the routes with the least traffic and the available bike lanes. The tour includes a stop in one of the bars where they serve the traditional Peruvian 'pisco sour' which is a cocktail based on grape liqeur, lemon juice and other secret ingredients that apparently became fashionable in Lima during 1920 and has been a traditional drink since then. For trained cyclists, there's also the possibility of requesting routes of various difficulties outside Lima that go from the Sacred City of 'Caral a Pachacamac' and pass by the Inca route.
Punta Hermosa and Punta Negra
You can sun bathe and practice water sports as long as the fog and the sharks let you.
Here comes the sun...'
Sun and beach lovers might be disappointed with the coast of Lima since it's usually covered by an almost permanent fog due to the humidity. If you're a surf lover, your spot is located at 58 kilometres to the south: the beaches of ‘Punta Negra’ has waves which are perfect for beginners as well as experienced surfers - always take your neoprene and keep your eyes wide open. Nothing should happen but Peru's coasts are home to no more and no less less than 58 kinds of sharks. Another destination for sun and waves is the beach of ‘Punta Hermosa’, which is 40 kilometres from Lima where, as well as surfing, you can dive by the reefs and walk along its impressive beaches, enjoy a day in the hot springs or visit ‘La Isla’ from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Pacific, from its peak and in all its glory.
Parapente Perú Fly (Perú Fly Paragliding)
A leisure activity for the brave. Amazing experiences that you'll never forget.
Come fly with me, come fly, let's fly away...
If you'd like to enjoy Peru from a bird's-eye view, the best activity is 'Parapente Perú Fly', which is only suitable for the brave. You must call the information office first which is based in the ‘Parque del Amor de Miraflores’ (Love Park in Miraflores) to check the weather conditions and ask for a quote which you can haggle for by the way. The instructors make sure that they fly practically every day of the year and if they don't answer the phone, it's because they're up in the air: leave them a mesage and they'll get back to you. Among the activities, you have the 'flight initiation' which is in tandem with an instructor, for both hang gliding and paragliding. The paragliding point in Lima is at the 'Malecón Cisneros' and the flights usually take place in Lima, although there's also the possibility of parachute jumps with guaranteed views in other parts of the country, such as Cuzco or the region of Nazca.
Palacio de Torre Tagle (Torre Tagle Palace)
An Andalucian touch for this stunning building in Lima that you must not miss for anything in the world.
Spanish essence.
The influence of Spanish baroque architecture is apparent in this stunning building that is home to the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs nowadays. Torre Tagle Palace belonged to the Marquis of Tagle from the eighteenth century until it was acquired by the Peruvian government in 1918. Its facade will remind you of the 'Mudejar' influences of baroque Andalusian with an unmistakable Moorish row of balconies of finely worked wood, around which is a stone porch with a coat of arms is opened. The building was constructed in 1735 and is considered as one of the best examples of art in Lima. Past the hall, you'll find an Andalucian patio around which the galleries are arranged in the rooms of the old residency including a sanctuary, large and richly decorated rooms with Rembrandt on the walls and even a picturesque blue and red carriage in which the Marquis used to travel in.
Casa Solariega de Aliaga (Aliaga Ancestral Home)
Its furniture from that period and its rooms and staircases take you back to the past, making you feel like Pizarro himself.
Generation after generation.
If you want to step on the same ground that the conquerer Pizarro and his companions stepped on, the ‘Casa Solariega de Aliaga’ which belonged to Captain Jerónimo de Aliaga Ramírez from 1535, makes an interesting visit and he was gifted these grounds as a token of appreciation by Pizarro for his work and that of his descendents during the conquest. It's the only example of a home in Latin America which has belonged to the same family for more than five centuries who still live there and have made it available to the public for organized tourist visits and even dinner parties in their restaurant. ‘La Casa Solariega de Aliaga’ surprises you by the eclectism of its architecture, considering that every generation of Aliaga was incorporating ornaments of each century. The large rooms, staircases and furniture of the period make this visit a trip to the past which is not to be missed.
Huaca Pucllana
A trip to the period of ancestral rituals, human sacrifices and gifts to the gods. Highly interesting.
Let's go travelling for a short while?
The visit to the ‘Huaca Pucllana’, located in the district of Miraflores in Lima, means an authentic journey to the past towards the fourth century AD, when the settlers of the coastal grounds built this pyramid with its respective rooms, mazes and close terraces. At first sight it seems like a gigantic architectural library because they built the walls as if they were made up of thousands of adobe books. Apparently, this ceremonial area was central to ancestral rituals including human sacrifices and torn vessels as gifts to the gods. The museum of the place has recreated a true scale of some of the customs of this colony and exhibits the ceramics and objects which were found during the excavations. During your visit, you will also be able to see the work of the archaeologists who are still investigating this site in order to find out more about this civilization.
Huaca Huallamarca (also known as 'Pan de Azucar' or Sugar Loaf)
An archaeological treasure which is fortunately still standing … worthy of visits and praise!
Unresolved mysteries.
One of the unsolved mysteries of the pre-Incan cultures of Lima is the ‘Huaca Huallamarca’, a monument that is located in the residential neighbourhood of San Isidro as a collection of architecture that's dominated by a truncated pyramid. Luckily, common sense had made the authorities preserve and restore this site which was meant to be originally used for ceremonial and funeral purposes, considering that there has been several attempts to clean the site at the beginning of the twentieth century and open a public park in its place. ‘La Huaca Huallamarca’ dates back to the first century Before Christ and and was abandoned by its people towards the third century AD for unknown reasons. They left ceramics, basic and agricultural tools and even rag dolls, but strangely enough, no weapons were left next to the deceased in their tombs where you can visit nowadays in the museum that is dedicated to the site's investigation.
Basílica de San Pedro (St. Peter's Church)
You'll not only notice its altarpieces and barroque decoration; its relics attract attention, especially if you are a believer.
An unmistakable mark of the Jesuits.
‘La iglesia y convento de San Pedro’ (St. Peter's Church and Monastery) has an unmistakable mark of the Jesuit community who ordered its construction back in the sixteenth century. Its neoclassic facade conceals the inside of a church that wanted to copy the main architectural pride of the Jesuits of Rome which was named the Church of the Gesù, and to add to the spectacularity, the order also included the purchase of the square that was right in front of the church from where you can admire its view even more. Beyond its beautiful altarpieces and interior of baroque ornamentation, of which many pieces were donated by the aristocracy of the period, the most curious part of this church is its collection of relics. According to what the believers say, the remains of 'la Cruz del Calvario' (The Calvary Cross) and even a thorn of Jesus's crown are buried in 'la Basílica de San Pedro', as well as a collection of ribs, molars, entire skeletons and the bone dust of several saints.
Parque de la Muralla (The Park of the Wall)
No plans for Saturday night? Come on over to this park and enjoy its night life. You'll like it.
The Protective Wall
The seventeenth century in Peru was a busy period of constant attacks by pirates and enemies of the Spanish viceroy, which generated the need to strenghten Lima with a wall of which some of its remains still stand today. Another problem that they had to solve was the rising of the Rímac River that flooded the streets and damaged the rudimentary foundations of buildings on more than one occasion, which is why dike walls were built next to the protective wall in order to withstand the floods. The Park of the Wall is an area, which forms part of the restoration programme of old Lima, and it has helped to maintain part of the fortification and to relaunch its touristic appeal. The best time to visit the park is at the weekend or at night when it's full of street musicians, outdoor activities and mysteriously lit up by its ancient stones.
Convento de San Francisco (San Francisco Monastery)
You'll find catacombs, paintings, embossings and much more in one of the most majestic churches in the city.
Very rich interior.
One of the monuments which is a must-see during your visit to Lima is ‘el Convento de San Francisco’, which is a spectacular example of hispanic-Peruvian barroque architecture that, since the first chapel of the sixteenth century to its majestic contemporary look, it has gone through centuries of refurbishments, including those that were necessary after the earthquakes which completely demolished the monastery. The most interesting feature about this religious combination is its rich interior with procession floats embossed in silver and gold leafing, paintings from the school of Rubens, fine cloisters which hide the really beautiful gardens, an extraordinary library with scrolls and incunabulums that total 25,000 titles and most of all, you can visit its mysterious catacombs which have been in use since the opening of the cemetery in 1810. It is believed that the monastery's charnel house is home to more than 25,000 souls with geometrically arranged skulls and bones.
Casco Histórico (The Historic Centre)
You'll feel that you're stepping on holy ground as you walk around the historic centre. The native essence is still very noticeable in Lima.
Architectural luxury.
When you walk by the historic centre of Lima, remember that you're stepping on holy ground, especially around the area near the Church of Santa Ana where the natives used to go and tell their problems to the old oracle or "huaca" (a burial ground). After the Spanish conquest and subsequent viceroyalty, the native syncretism in the city was replaced by numerous Christian churches and luxurious architecture with large rows of balconies and aristocratic mansions that have lasted up to the present day. Its squares used to host bullfights and the executions undertaken by the Inquisition, whereas nowadays you'll walk by neo-colonial architecture and urban restructuring. The heart which is formed by 'la Plaza Mayor' (The Main Square) and the adjacent monuments beside 'la Plaza de San Martín' (St. Martin's Square) and 'la Plaza Santa Ana' (St. Ana's Square) form the historic centre named Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the beginning of the nineties.
Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro (The Presbitero Matías Maestro Cemetery)
The cemetery of anecdotes and scandals is one of the must-sees in this Peruvian city.
The first Latin-American civil cemetery.
As well as being the first Latin-American cemetery, the 'Cementerio Presbítero Matías Maestro' is home to more anecdotes than tombs since 1805. To begin with, the idea of not burying the dead in the church's crypts was considered to be scandalous. The landscape of the cementery included parks, sculptures and fine chapels that were decorated with frescoes inside. Just at the moment when a painter named Francisco Acosta was painting the final touches, he had an accident and died. But his body was hidden and it had to wait to be buried until after the Spanish Archbishop 'Juan Domingo González de la Reguera' had the honour of being the first to be buried in the place. Setting the scene for christian rituals and other religious events, the last scandal ocurred in 1917 when a Russian dancer named Norka Rouskaya danced semi-naked to Chopin's 'Funeral March' in the middle of the cemetery and at night, cheered on by a group of bohemians and writers of that period who almost ended up in prison due to their adventure.
The Municipal Palace
Neo-colonial outside, French renaissance inside. Its eventful life is worth the visit.
The old farmyard with lamas.
Curiously, in the distant times of the Spanish conquest, the first town hall or council was established in Pizarro's house. What you see nowadays as the Municipal Palace, was actually a farmyard with lamas, which was property of another leader of that period back in 1548 and where the current building was to begin its construction. The rush to build the palace, together with the earth's formation and overuse (its row of balconies used to bear the weight of the council's men during parties, processions and bullfights) almost turned it into ruins within a few years. Several fires and floods later, the building survived how it could until a complete restoration of it was conducted in1939, adding a neo-colonial external appearance and a French renaissance style to its overelaborate interior. During your visit, you will also find the luxurious Municipal Library here with more than 15,000 titles.
The Temple of Chuquitanta
This peculiar and extraordinary landscape is next to the mouth of the Chillón River.
El Paraíso' (Paradise)
A few kilometres from the mouth of the Chillón River near Lima, we find the extraordinary landscape of the Temple of Chuquitanta which is also known as 'El Paraíso'; a site which dates back to the year 1500 BC and seems like a strange lunar landscape of adobe and stone. It was discovered relatively recently by the archaeologist Frederic Engel in 1965 and it's meant to be one of the oldest sites in Peru, belonging to a lost civilization which possibly farmed and fished for a living and carried out holy rituals with burnt-offerings for their gods. 'El Paraíso' has been excavated down to finding its ceremonial pyramid and surrounding buildings, adding up to 50 hectares of this ancestral nation. It's believed that 'Chuquitanta' was a religious and administrative centre with a complex organization and pleasant life beside the sea.
The Presidential Palace
The current official residence of the president of Peru has a long history. Suitable for visitors - that's for sure, but by the exterior only!
The president's house.
Apparently, the arrival of Spanish troops in Lima during the 16th century didn't only mean the pillaging of the indigenous lands and the desertification of the fruit gardens that they found (because they had no place to populate the city, according to the conquerer Francisco Pizarro). They also made symbolic confiscations such as the house of the local chief 'Taulichusco', where Viceroy's Palace was established and subsequently became the Presidential Palace, which currently serves as the residency for the government and the president of Peru. The present building has nothing to do with the first adobe house, which experienced several fires, earthquakes and wars. The design of the Presidential Palace that is maintained nowadays is the result of the restoration works that were carried out at the beginning of the 20th century. In any case, it's a monument that you will only be able to see from the outside.
Catedral de Lima (Cathedral of Lima)
A spectacular cathedral which has an air of Spanish conquest and has undergone many changes throughout its history.
A mix of baroque, gothic and neoclassic.
The origin of the magnificent Cathedral of Lima, which you may visit nowadays, dates back to the period of the Spanish conquest when Francisco Pizarro made the native people abandon their beliefs and swear their loyalty. It's believed that the land where Pizarro put the first stones and planks of wood to build the first cathedral in 1535 was where the 'Puma-Inti' shrine was found - the divine figure of the Inca ruler. Since then, this church has gone through several changes and extensions to compete with the largest Spanish cathedrals until 1602, when they began to build using renaissance architecture with plateresque facades that lasted more than a century of construction and were demolished due to the earthquake of 1746. This explains why you can see so many architectural styles and different ornaments with baroque, gothic and neoclassic pieces, in the same cathedral.
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