MIRAFLORES - LIMA - PERU

LIMA AND MIRAFLORES TOURIST GUIDE
 

Lima was founded in 1535 and in a short period of time became the most important city in the Americas. Today, there are more than eight million inhabitants, and the city shelters immigrants from all corners of the globe, which has transformed it into a mixed city par excellence. In the historic centre, placed by UNESCO on the World Cultural Heritage List, you can visit splendid samples of Colonial architecture like the Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Convent of San Francisco as well as fantastically wood carven balconies. Lima is also an inexhaustible source of culture, demonstrated by the existence of numerous and varied museums like the National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology, and History and the Rafael Larco Herrera Archeological Museum, which guards priceless Incan and pre-Incan treasures.

Situated in the heart of the city are great archeological monuments such as the Huallamarca Huaca or the Pucllana Huaca. And, on the outskirts of Lima facing the ocean is Pachacamac, the most important pre-Incan sanctuary on the coast, built in the third century A.D. Some of the other great attractions are the beaches where you can do all types of aquatic sports, enjoy the sun, or simply gaze at the mesmerizing beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

During this trip, you must also remember to sample one of the best cuisines in the world. The city offers a wide variety of restaurants and inviting locales where you will be able to taste delicious dishes, the result of the mixing of European, African, Asian, and Andean cuisines.

On January 18, 1535, Francisco Pizarro founded the capital of Peru in what is today the Main Square. Behind it, there is the Alameda Chabuca Granda where you can find typical Creole dishes for you to taste and also different shows to enjoy. Possessing important samples of Colonial architecture, the historic downtown is also known as “Damero de Pizarro” (Pizarro’s Chessboard) because the streets are distributed like a chessboard. In 1991, the area was placed on the World Historical Heritage list by UNESCO.

HISTORICAL CENTER TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Main Square, Lima
It was the center of the old Colonial city. The Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace and the Provincial City Hall of Lima are located in its perimeter. At its center, there is a seventeenth century bronze fountain.

Cathedral of Lima
Main Square. Telephone: (511) 427-9647. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sat. 9:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
It is placed where the first Main Church of Lima was. The interior is austere, although it shelters real historic jewels like the finely carved wooden pews of the Pedro de Noguera choir, different side altars, and the remains of Francisco Pizarro. In addition, you can visit the Museum of Religious Art that possesses an important collection of canvases, sculptures, chalices, and chasubles.

Government Palace
Main Square. 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.

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.

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.

Aliaga House
Jiron De la Union 224. Telephone: (511) 427-7736. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Being built with quincha (anti-seismic building material) and adobe on top of existing pre-Hispanic foundations, its rooms had to be adapted to an irregular distribution and placed on different levels. The main facade possesses a Republican era balcony. It has lovely patios; the first is covered in nineteenth century Italian marble and the second is adorned with an old bronze fountain. The house has belonged to the same family since the year it was built (1535) and today is the location of different cultural events.

Museum of the Inquisition and the Congress
Jiron Junin 548. Telephone: (511) 311-7777 extension 2910. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
The museum preserves numerous objects and rooms which were used during the Inquisition process. Among them, there is the Courtroom where the members of the Inquisition Tribunal met. Interesting sights are the Secret Door, used to conduct individuals to the Grand Inquisitor’s private room, the Torture Chamber, the secret dungeon with its subterranean cells, and the Inquisition Library. Library of Congress. Across the street, occupying the area that used to be the old church and monastery of la Caridad (sixteenth century), there is the Congressional Building of the Republic, a Neo-classical building constructed between 1912 and 1916.

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 Quito Schools, a series of gilded carvings of the founders of some religious orders, and a painting of the coronation of the Virgin by Bernardo Bitti.

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.

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.

Lima Art Museum
Paseo Colon 125. Telephone: (511) 423-4732 / 423-6332 / 423-5149. Visiting hours: Thurs. – Tues. 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
This was set up in the former World Exhibition Palace (1869). They exhibit pre-Hispanic ceramics, textiles, and fine metal works. There are also collections of the most important paintings and works of art from Peru.

Italian Art Museum
Avenida Paseo de la Republica 250. Tel: (511) 423-9932. Visiting hours: Mon. – Fri. 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
It was built by the Italian colony in honor of the hundred year anniversary of Peruvian independence and inaugurated in 1924. The Italian Renaissance facade is worked in white marble with the coats of arms of the main Italian cities and two mosaic panels with notable historical figures. Permanent exhibitions show art works from Italy with elements of Bramante architecture and decorative details inspired by Donatello, Ghiberti, Michelangelo, and Botticcelli.

Parque de la Exposicion
Intersection of the Avenidas 28 de Julio y Garcilaso de la Vega. Telephone: (511) 423-0133.Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. 9:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M.
The park houses monuments that correspond to the hundred years of independence like the Morisco Pavilion, the Seismograph, the Chinese Fountain, the Botanical Gardens, and the Japanese Garden. There are also areas dedicated to arts and entertainment like the PuppetIsland, the Open Theater, and the La Cabaña Theater.
China Town

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 millenial 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.

MIRAFLORES TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

A tourist district full of hotels. There are large and modern malls, theaters, cinemas, and art galleries. Its green areas are beautiful, like the Kennedy Park where artists, painters, and folklore groups meet.

Huaca Pucllana or Huaca Juliana
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.

Amano Museum
Calle Retiro 160. Telephone: (511) 441-2909 / 222-5827 / 442-1007. Visits: Upon reservation.
You will find archeological pieces there such as ceramics from the Kotosh, Moche, Chimú, Cupisnique, and Nasca cultures. An important collection of pre-Hispanic textiles is on display, chronologically organized, the Chancay (CentralCoast) cultural pieces being the most impressive.

Enrico Poli Museum
Avenida Lord Cochrane 466. Telephone: (511) 422-2437. Visits: Upon reservation.
It houses a private collection that shows pre-Colombian and Colonial gold and silver pieces.
Central Park of Miraflores 7 de Junio: (Also called Parque Kennedy)
Beautiful park of charming gardens, has a small amphitheater in which diverse cultural artistic shows are presented. Rotondes for the exhibition and sale of crafts and arts. This is the place for a very good weekend art and crafts market at lunchtime, especially on Sundays.

Parque del Amor
Located between the Cisneros and Balta's dikes, beautiful natural mirador of the marine bay of Chorrillos, with romantic view during the sunset. It has a small amphitheater and a gigantic sculpture of an Andean couple in eternal kiss, made by the famous Peruvian sculptor Víctor Delfín. In the last years a tradition has been made, many couples when concluding the religious ceremony of their marriage, immediately visit this park, dressed with their bride and groom clothes. This happens specially on Friday and Saturday between 6 and 9 p.m.

Larco Mar
Gathered in one of the nicest stops to hang around in Lima is the largest variety of entertainment oriented in services: You will find 12 cinemas, pubs, bars, discotheques, many restaurants and a bowling.

Beaches
In the months of summer (December to March) you can take advantage in taking a bath in the beaches of Miraflores, or only go for a walk in any time of the year, just to appreciate the beautiful landscape of "Costa Verde" (an important ravine), a contrast between the beaches and the high ravine on which Miraflores is located. Some beaches have medium waves for the practice of surfing.

On this ravine it will be frequent to see paragliding and hang gliding suspended in the air, or if you prefer you can also participate of this experience.

SAN ISIDRO TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Characterized by green areas and exclusive residential neighborhoods, especially the traditional area of El Olivar, named that way because of the hundreds of olive trees growing in the park, San Isidro has, in recent years, become an important tourist and business center with modern buildings, hotels, restaurants, and malls.

Huallamarca Huaca
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 SiteMuseum houses pieces found during the excavations of the area.

Source: PromPeru