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Sightseeing in Lima - what to see. Complete travel guide

Lima Lima is a large and one of the most beautiful cities of Peru and Latin America in general. The city was founded in 1535, when Spanish conquerors used the settlement as an outpost during their military operations in Peru. Many years ago this city had the second name – the city of kings. It was given to Lima because there were building fascinating cathedrals, magnificent mansions of the Spanish noble people, and the viceroy’s palace. Architectural sights of that time still attract many visitors and bring the unique charm to the city.
Cuisine of Lima for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe
National cuisine of Lima is worth of the highest praise. It boasts diverse and original dishes, as well as a unique blend of culinary traditions from around the world. A typical national … Open
Lima is located on the pacific coast near the foot of the Andes. This is not only the largest metropolis of South America, but also a unique city that offers numerous entertainments and rest possibilities to its tourists. The city has carefully preserved the history of the colonial period, the period of Spanish governors and conquistadors. In Lima there are three most important buildings of their epoch. These are the municipality, government palace and cathedral with the tomb of Francisco Pisarro. All of them are located on the main square of Lima, Placa de Armas.
Other sights of this place are the monastery and church San Francisco, Museum of gold that features a great collection of gold and silver jewelry with precious stones, Museum of Ceramics of Raphael Larko Herrera, Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, and many more. The museum of ceramics exhibits several interesting collections of ceramics of pre-colonial Peru, golden and silver jewelry, ancient mummies, and a collection of Colombian erotic ceramics. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Authentic traditions, festivals and lifestyle of Lima inhabitants
Probably, the main national feature of Lima is Indian nation. Its culture and way of life, craft and colorful ceremonial events attract travelers as much as local landmarks do. However, it … Open
The Barranco district will be of interest to lovers of non-standard attractions. Once in its place was an inconspicuous fishing village. Now this charming area is considered a favorite place for artists, poets and other artists. Here in old buildings, whose walls are decorated with colorful graffiti drawings, there are numerous art galleries, workshops and souvenir shops. Also in this region, there are several excellent national restaurants. Each building in the Barranco district is a real modern attraction, all thanks to talented local artists and designers.
Lima A striking example of a typical colonial architecture is Casa Aliaga. This is one of the most famous villas in the city. It was built in the 15th century and since the time of its foundation to the present day, belongs to one family. In this villa, there are a lot of old decoration elements and almost all of its rooms are accessible for tourists to visit. There are interesting excursions, during which you can see ancient works of art, furniture of colonial times and other interesting antiques.
Excursion over cultural sights of Lima - 'must visit' points of interest
The starting point of most tour itineraries is a picturesque Plaza Mayor, next to which there is the most important religious monument, Cathedral. The first church in its place has been … Open
Among the most mysterious and amazing sights of Lima, it is worth noting the Pyramid of Huaca Pucllana. According to researchers, it was built about 2.5 thousand years ago. However, this amazing archaeological site became known only recently, in the middle of the 20th century. Excavations at the pyramid area have been ongoing for more than 60 years. Here, a lot of unique artifacts were discovered, including animal remains, antique ceramics and textiles. The exact purpose of the huge pyramid is still a mystery for researchers.
Plaza San Martin, Lima Fans of fascinating excursions will surely be impressed by the Larco Museum. It is housed in a beautiful 18th century mansion that used to be a royal residence. Now in the halls of the mansion there are collections of unique Peruvian ceramics. The age of some exhibits is more than a thousand years. The museum houses a rich collection of archaeological finds, including stone carvings and prehistoric tools. Not long ago, when studying the villa, it was discovered that the mansion is located on the ruins of an ancient pyramid, which was built here in the pre-Columbian era.
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Sightseeing in Peru: things to see

Palacio de Torre Tagle is one of the most famous landmarks of the medieval period. The palace was built in the beginning of the 17th century and is considered an amazing example of the baroque style. The palace charms visitors with its elegant design and skillfully selected furnishing. The ground floor of the building is the location of a giant hall that has become a traditional venue for various important events and governmental meetings. Excursions to Raqchi region are traditionally very popular with tourists. During the Incan period a big city was located here, but now tourists can mostly see the ruins and several buildings - a big temple dedicated to Viracocha and several houses. There is a big man-made water reserve near the temple, and the purpose of this reserve is still a mystery. … Open
Reference information
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Lima and around
♥   Art museum 'Museo de Arte de Lima' Lima, 1.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sights around Lima from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Pools of Skye Condos

From the series “Most Scary Swiiming Pools”
Check on the map:   Distance from Lima center - 23.8 km.
As noted by the project organizers themselves, they sought to build a residential complex in such a way as to make the line between the living space and the surrounding world as invisible as possible. The Sky Condos complex promises to be one of the most luxurious in Latin America when completed. All the rules of seismic stability were observed when drawing up the project of the skyscraper, despite its apparent fragility. Earthquakes are very common in Lima. … Read further

Lima

From the series “The Most Magical and Picturesque Cities in the World”
Check on the map:   Distance from Lima center - 3.8 km.
The largest exposition, related to the colonial era, has been presented in the Museum of the Republic. In the National Museum of Anthropology and Archeology you can see artifacts discovered by researchers. The Museum of the Viceroyalty is an incredibly interesting institution, which presents a rich collection of antique furniture, national clothes and objects of painting. Lovers of hiking will definitely appreciate Lima. They can walk not only along the bright historic streets, but also around one of the largest parks on the continent. The surrounding area is famous for its variety of picturesque beaches, as well as for unique archaeological areas. … Read further

Sightseeing in regions nearby Lima

Cusco
According to local legends, Manco Cápac, the founder of the Inca civilization in Cusco, established the beautiful city. He came to this region from the Lake Titicaca region. The city’s territory was conventionally divided into four quarters, each of which had its ... Open »
Arequipa
Having explored the cathedral, move your feet to the Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena. This is a true “city inside a city”. The monastery occupies a large area of several tenths of thousand square meters. There are even streets inside the monastery that have ... Open »
La Paz
The historical center of La Paz is the location of Murillo Square. The square is the location of the monument devoted to the freedom fighters. Here you can also see the Capitol (National Congress). The square is surrounded by numerous colonial houses and churches that ... Open »
Guayaquil
The beauty of Guayaquil is hidden in its amazing from architectural point of view embankment with moorage. From time to time a small and beautiful sailing vessel named “Guayas” ties up at the moorage. Nearby are located two amazing parks. One of them is older; it ... Open »
Manta
The history of Manta started long before the day when Columbus reached the American coast. At that time, it was a port settlement that was an important center of trade between the Manteno and Inca peoples. The tribes that lived in Manta eventually conquered the ... Open »
Bogota
Bogota is located on the western slope of the Cordillera, in a ditch much above the sea level. The city was initially founded on the bank of the Rio San Francisco River. Nowadays this river simply doesn’t exist. The climate in this country is moderate and in summer ... Open »
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