Few edifices have withstood the various earthquakes that have shaken the city over the centuries, as well as the church and convent of San Francisco, masterpieces of the colonial era, built in the late 16C. You will be amazed by the intricate carving..

Located in one of Lima's prettiest neighbourhoods in a spacious abode with numerous patios, the Museo nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú paints a comprehensive picture of the cultures that inhabited pre-Columbian Peru from pr..

The Museo de Oro del Perú is a genuine treasure trove of pre-Columbian Peru : testimonies to the prehistoric past, sumptuous collections of pre-Incan ceramics and jewellery, collections of Incan keros and quipus (also called talking knots to cou..

In addition to the cathedral , Torre Tagle Palace – both on plaza de Armas – and the Iglesia y convento San Francisco, the historic heart of Lima conceals a host of other magnificent buildings from the colonial era. The charm of this district, a..

The genuine heart of the city during the colonial era, the Plaza de Armas is the site of remarkable colonial edifices, most of which were rebuilt after the damage caused by the earthquake of 1746. The elegance of the cathedral's façade vies with the ..

Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Palacio Torre Tagle is a favourite with picture postcard publishers. Begun in 1690 and finished in 1735 by Marquis Torre Tagle, this small palace is reckoned to be one of the subtlest examples of colonial ar..

The Iglesia y convento de La Merced form a unique architectural complex. The facade of the church features a superb crossbred Baroque-style portal , also referred to as Renaissance Inca, featuring arabesques, plants and sculptures, while the sobriet..

San Agustín Church (18C), rebuilt several times after earthquakes, has preserved period elements, some of which are quite splendid. It is impossible to miss the ornamental profusion of the Baroque frontispiece . The sacristy , from the same period,..

A visit to Santo Domingo Church (16C) is well worth the effort for its two cloisters (17C), among the oldest of the city. The azulejos and elegance of the first cloister are delightful, while the second cloister with its fountain and lush garden, i..

The Museo de la Nación provides a remarkable insight into the evolution of Peruvian art from the first pre-Incan civilisations until the present-day. On display are major works of art depicting the main artistic trends that have contributed to the na..

Stone sculptures, ceramics, mummies, jewellery, fabrics and erotic art are among the incredible wealth of objects collected by archaeologist Rafael Larco Hoyle, bearing witness to the civilisations that inhabited the north of Peru. The Museo Larco co..

Since 1960, the Art Museum, housed in the former exhibition palace built in 1872, has been home to a vast collection of Peruvian Art : Chavín, Mochica, Nazca, Tiahuanaco, Chancay and Inca ceramics, Paracas fabrics, Chimú and Mochica gold and silver ..

The imposing Los Descalzos convent, built in 1594 to the glory of the Franciscans, cannot fail but delight. As you tour the refectory, kitchens, cells and the library, try to picture the monks going about their daily business in the arcaded patios, g..

With its flower-decked lanes, late-19C villas and views of the Pacific, this slightly bohemian district is one of the most appealing of Lima. A perfume of nostalgia seems to float over this curious mixture of Montmartre and Valparaiso, whose pubs and..

Pedro de Osma Museum is a fabulous museum devoted to colonial art with paintings from the 16C to the 19C, a wide variety of sculpture (wood, stone and marble), furniture, fabric and engravings. The collections belong to the Spanish Pedro de Osma fami..

The ruins of what was one of the most prestigious sanctuaries of pre-Columbian Peru stand at the mouth of the fertile Río Lurín valley, between the coast and the southern Panamerican Highway. Dedicated to Pachacamac , the God who created the world, ..

The tomb of Francisco Pizarro , famous Spanish conquistador, lies behind the handsome baroque façade of Lima's cathedral (17C). During your visit, also pause to admire the elegantly carved chancel , entirely covered in gold leaf. The edifice, which..

It was here, in the Casa de Inquisición, that Lima's Holy Inquisition sat from 1584 to the late 18C. The visitor enters into a sort of wax museum of torture. In the excavated basement you will be able to see the old cells and their iron bars. Once ..

Laid out on the site of the former colonial ramparts, in the 19C the Parque universitario housed the Universidad de San Marcos , the oldest university of the American continent. It is now home to the Museo de Arte , Museo de Arqueología y Antropol..

The Museo Andrés del Castillo was created in 2008 in a handsome Republican abode. In addition to a mineral collection, it contains one of the finest collections of Chancay ceramics (900-1500) visible in Peru. The large earthenware jars painted blac..