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Lima

Lima, a great place to visit!

The city of Lima, founded on January 18, 1535, was considered the vice-royal capital of South America for three centuries. After Francisco Pizarro’s (the founder) decision to make Lima the capital of his government, different Hispanic authorities established their residence In Lima Its official name was Ciudad de loss Reyes (City of Kings) although, after a while, people preferred to call it Lima. For some researchers, the name Lima is a transformation of the name of the river on which it was founded, Irmak. Others instead suggest that the name was the old word for the lands of Taulichusco, the lord who ruled the valley when the Spanish arrived.

In 1821, Lima became the capital of new Republic of Peru. During the first decades of Republican life, it was the scene of political fights among different leaders. The advent of the twentieth century implied a renovation since the city modernized and grew in the attempt of trying to keep up with other great capitals of the world. In 2002, the Department of Lima was divided into the Department of Lima and Metropolitan Lima, the capital of the country.

Altitude
- Lowest Altitude: 3 masl / 10 fasl (Ancon).
- Highest Altitude: 861 masl / 2825 fasl (Chosica).

Weather
The city of Lima has an arid and semi-warm climate. The average annual maximum temperature is 21.97ΊC (71.4ΊF) and the minimum is 17ΊC (62ΊF). The temperature increases in the years when the El Niño phenomenon occurs.

Access Routes
By land: Connected by the Pan-American Highway to different cities along the coast of Peru, Ecuador, and Chile.
To the west, the Carretera Central is the main highway to different highland and central jungle cities.
By air: Regular flights to the major world cities from the Jorge Chavez International Airport (located in the Callao Region, approximately 30 minute from Lima).

Atractions
Chinatown Chinatown

Jiron Paruro, Barrios Altos. It is one of the largest in South America. Walking through its streets means getting to know the customs and products of this millennial culture. Mainly, it is about eating the delicious food found in the numerous area restaurants called “chifas”. The Entrance Monument to Calle Capon is a nice architectural piece.


Church and Convent of La Merced Church and Convent of La Merced
Jiron De la Union 621. Telephone: (511) 427-8199. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 8:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
A sixteenth century Colonial architectural complex. The church maintains the granite facade that dates from 1687. The roof is finely decorated with plaster figures. The Neo-classical upper altar with the image of the Virgin of La Merced and a carven figure of Saint Michael the Archangel is the most important interior piece. The Pedro Urraca Chapel is also found inside as well as the coarse wooden cross that, according to the stories, he used to exorcise the devil.


Church of San Pedro Church of San Pedro
Jiron Ucayali 451. Telephone: (511) 428-3017. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:30 A.M. – 11:45 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Built in 1636, the first floor was inspired by the main Jesuit church in Rome and has three naves. It is the only church in Lima with three entrances, which is a characteristic of a cathedral. What stands out is the magnificent Churrigueresque shrines and the space of the central naves that seem to be surrounded by paintings and tiles. There are many works of art from the Lima, Cusco, and QuitoSchools, a series of gilded carvings of the founders of some religious orders, and a painting of the coronation of the Virgin by Bernardo Bitti.


Government Palace Government Palace

. Telephone: (511) 311-3908. Visiting hours: Mon. – Fri. 8:30 A.M. – 13:00 P.M. / 2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. It was the residence of Francisco Pizarro (1535), who built it on the land that used to be occupied by Taulichusco, chief of the Rimac Valley. Since then, the place has been the center of the political power in Peru. It burnt down and was rebuilt in the 1920’s. It features many patios and rooms dedicated to important people of Peruvian history and carefully decorated with notable art pieces. Every morning at 11:45 A.M., the Patio of Honor is the stage for the changing of the guard, soldiers of the prestigious Husares de Junín Battalion.



Huaca Huallamarca Huaca Huallamarca

Intersection of Avenida El Rosario and Avenida Nicolás de Rivera. Tel. (511) 222-4124. Visiting hours: Tues. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (Site Museum). A pyramidal temple that chronologically corresponds to the beginning of regional development. The place is a result of a series of cultural superimpositions, the three most important being the Lima, Wari, and Inca cultures. The Site Museum houses pieces found during the excavations of the area.


Huaca Pucllana Huaca Pucllana

Gral. Borgoño, block 8 (Near Avenida Angamos Oeste, block 4 and Avenida Arequipa, block 45). Telephone / fax: (511) 445-8695. Visiting hours: Wed. – Mon. 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. It is a pre-Inca pyramid of adobe bricks. It was one of the most important administrative and ceremonial centers of the Lima culture, settled in the areas of the Chancay, Chillón, Rimac, and Lurín valleys from 200 A.D. – 700 A.D. Sometimes, events or musical shows take place there. You can also find a site museum that exhibits pieces found in the excavations.


Main Square Main Square
Bordered by various arched walkways and the Cathedral, the Main Square possesses a beautiful bronze fountain of three plates crowned by the figure of a sixteenth century soldier. From this person, who is called “Tuturutu”, the story says he was in charge of warning of any new event. Around the square, you see three granite portals with brick and lime bases: Portal del Cabildo (Portal de la Municipalidad), Portal de las Delicias (Portal de San Agustín), and Portal del Regocijo (Portal de Flores).


Pachacamac Archeological Complex Pachacamac Archeological Complex
31 km / 19 miles from Lima on the Pan-American Highway South (45 minutes by car). SiteMuseum Telephone: (511) 430-0168. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
It was the most important pre-Inca ceremonial center on the Peruvian coast. The main building material was mud. Around the complex, there are palaces, plazas, and temples (some of them restored), the most important being the Temple of the Sun and the Acllahuasi, both built during the Inca reign (1440 A.D. – 1533 A.D.) and the best preserved parts of the area. You will find a site museum that displays pieces found during the excavation.


Parque de la Muralla or Wall Park Parque de la Muralla or Wall Park
Jiron Amazonas, block 1, close to Jiron Abancay, block 1. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 8:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M. Free admission.
It houses a fragment of the restored old wall that surrounded Lima and was built in the seventeenth century to protect it from pirates and attacks from enemies of the Spanish crown. There is a statue of the founder of Lima, Francisco Pizarro, and a site museum with exhibitions of archeological pieces found in the area.


Puente de los Supiros (Bridge of Sighs) Puente de los Supiros (Bridge of Sighs)

It was built in 1876 to join the streets Calle Ayacucho and La Ermita. It is frequented by couples in love.


  


Puruchuco Archeological Site Puruchuco Archeological Site
Kilometer marker 4,5. Telephone / fax: (511) 494-2641. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. and holidays – 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. The Inca buildings (1440 A.D. – 1533 A.D.) are made of mud and adobe. It is thought to be a palace or a very important regional administrative center. The space is distributed along geometric lines and divided into three sectors, the most interesting being the area of patios and lookouts. During the excavation process, several human corpses were recovered, characterized by being placed in a fetal position and accompanied by everyday objects. You will find an interesting site Museum.


San Francisco Church and Convent San Francisco Church and Convent
Jiron Ancash, block 3. Telephone: (511) 427-1381, extension 111. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:30 A.M. – 5:30 P.M.
A seventeenth century architectural complex. It includes the church, the convent, and the square. The church main front was carved in stone and is characterized by its Corinthian columns. In the facade, there is an open cornice with arches with an image of the Immaculate Conception. The cloistered area, decorated with tiles, houses the Vice-royalArt Museum. Additionally, the catacombs, which was a cemetery during the Colony, can be visited.


Santo Domingo Church and Convent Santo Domingo Church and Convent
Intersection of Jirones Conde de Superunda y Camana. Telephone: (511) 427-6793. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. Sunday and holidays: 9:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
The church has three naves with an impressive cupola and finely carved cedar pews in the choir. The convent walls are decorated with tiles from Seville, and the main room features Baroque carvings. In 1551, the first university founded by the Spanish crown in the New World, the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, was established in the convent.


Torre Tagle Palace Torre Tagle Palace

Jiron Ucayali 323. Telephone: (511) 311-2400 / 311-2769. Visiting hours: Reservation required through the Ministry of Foreign Relations. The construction of this two story building began in 1735 by order of the Marquis of Torre Tagle, Treasurer of the Spanish Royal Navy. It is considered to be one of the best representations of the eighteenth century Lima residential architectural style. Notable items are the carved wooden balcony, Baroque chapel decorated with mirrors and Colonial paintings, and the carefully worked stone entrance. Today, it is the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Relations.


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