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LIMA, THE
CITY OF THE KINGS
PRINCIPAL ATTRACTIONS
THE PLAZA DE ARMAS. Main Square. Was founded the 18 of January, 1535 by Francisco Pizarro.
At the center of the square stands a bronze fountain.
THE CATHEDRAL. On the Main Square. Was destroyed by the 1746 earthquake and reconstructed
in 1758. Outstanding carvings. The Ivory Christ was a gift from Charles V.
GOVERNMENT PALACE. On the Main Square. Also known as Pizarro's house. Changing of the
Guard ceremony is held everyday at mid-day.
CHURCH SANTO DOMINGO. Corner of Conde Superunda street and Camana street. The construction
was completed at the end of the XVI century. The dome is unique.
CHURCH SAN PEDRO. Corner of Ucayali street with 4th block of Azangaro street. Built by the
Jesuits in 1624, it had lateral naves with magnificent arches. Altars and nice gilt
retablos.
CHURCH SAN FRANCISCO. 3rd block of Ancash street. Its the country's largest colonial
architectural complex. The underground galleries contain the catacombs.
CHURCH LA MERCED. 6th block of La Union street. The church's monumental XVIII century
stone facade is worth visiting.
CHURCH JESUS MARIA. Corner of Moquegua street and Camana street. A small church of typical
Limenian colonial style, with Barroque and gold leafed altars and pulpits.
CHURCH SANTA ROSA. 1st block of Tacna Ave. It houses her relics and the well into which
she threw the key to the chain she put around her waist as a sign of penitence, still
stands in the garden.
CHURCH LAS NAZARENAS. Corner of Huancavelica street and Tacna Ave. Built on the site,
where in colonial times, a negro slave from Angola painted a crucified Christ on the wall
that withstood the earthquake of 1655.
MUSEUMS
MUSEO DE LA NACION. Javier Prado Oeste 2466, San Borja. Has excellent models of Peru's
mayor ruins, along with collections of the best artifacts from all mayor Peruvian cultures.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND ARCHEOLOGY. Bolivar Square, Pueblo Libre. The Chavin,
Nasca, Mochica, Chimu, Huari and Inca collections are outstanding.
NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM. Bolivar Square, Pueblo Libre. Exhibits paintings, objects,
documents and relics dating from the XVIII century.
GOLD MUSEUM OF PERU. Alfonso de Molina street, Monterrico. On exhibit, gold pieces:
necklaces, idols, masks, etc.
AMANO MUSEUM. 160 Retiro street, Miraflores. Selected pre-hispanic ceramics and textiles
are on exhibit. Previous arrangement for visit.Telf.441.2909
RAFAEL LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM. 1515 Bolivar Ave. An interesting collection, especially from
the Northern cultures.
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM. 1250 Arenales Ave. On exhibits is the scientific collection of
Peruvian fauna, flora and minerals.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PERUVIAN CULTURE. 650 Alfonso Ugarte Ave. Exhibits folk handicraft
items from the pre-Columbian times.
MANSIONS
TORRE TAGLE PALACE. 3rd block of Ucayali street, Lima. Seville, Mudejar and Creole styles.
JARAVA OR ESQUIVEL'S HOUSE. 390 Ancash street, Lima. Built in the XVII century, the
mansion has stone columns and a monumental facade.
ALIAGA'S HOUSE. 224 Union street, Lima. Constructed on top of a huaca or temple by the
Captain Jeronimo de Aliaga, since then it has belonged to the descendants of the Conqueror
Aliaga.
OSAMBELA PALACE. 298 Conde de Superunda street, Lima. It was a mirador , from which Martin
de Osambela, could observe the entry of the galleons into the Callao harbor.
TRADITIONAL SPOTS
STONE BRIDGE. Behind the Government Palace. For over two centuries, it was the only link
between the two banks of the Rimac river.
ALAMEDA DE LOS DESCALZOS. Rimac. There's this marble statues representing the months of
the year, they were brought to Peru from Italy.
PASEO DE AGUAS. Rimac. This was constructed by order of Viceroy Amat to please his
mistress, La Perricholi.
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
HUALLAMARCA. Nicolas de Rivera 201, San Isidro. Pyramidal-shaped pre-inca
temple. It
contains an on-site museum.
PUCLLANA. 8th block of General Borgoņa street, Miraflores. A monument representative of
one of the earliest stages of the Lima culture and which was apparently an administrative
and religious center. It is pyramidal in shape and built of small adobe bricks.
PACHACAMAC. km.31 on the southern Pan American Highway, Lurin valley. From the
pre-Inca period onward this was an important religious center where the God Pachacamac
was worshipped. The Incas conquered the site and built the Temples of the Sun and of the
Moon. The wooden idol found, together with ceramic and textiles are exhibited in the
on-site museum.
PURUCHUCO. km.7 1/2 on the Central Highway, Ate district. This was the residence of a
Cacique (chief) in pre-Colombian times. It has an on-site museum.
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