Historic Centre of Lima

The Historic Centre of Lima is the colonial core of Peru’s capital city on the central Pacific coast of South America, centred on the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and major civic buildings. It preserves an extensive ensemble of 16th- to 18th-century colonial architecture and urban planning elements laid out during the city’s foundation.

Principal monuments include the Plaza Mayor framed by the Government Palace and the Cathedral, the Convent of San Francisco with its baroque interiors and subterranean catacombs, and a network of colonial streets with houses and palaces. The area reflects Spanish colonial urban models and religious and administrative functions concentrated around the main square.

Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru and the historic centre developed rapidly thereafter as an administrative and ecclesiastical capital. Buildings were constructed, rebuilt and embellished across the colonial period; subsequent earthquakes and urban growth led to repairs and periodic reconstruction.

The historic centre sits adjacent to the modern city on the central Peruvian coast, close to the Pacific Ocean; it occupies the heart of Lima and is the principal historic district within the metropolitan area.

• Orientation points: The historic centre preserves a strong grid of colonial streets with numerous churches and public buildings; both the Plaza Mayor and the nearby Alameda are useful orientation points for visitors.
• Visiting timing: Traffic and urban pressures affect some areas of the centre; mornings and weekdays are often best for quieter visits to the principal monuments and museums.

What to See #

• Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas): The Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas) is the city's principal colonial-era square, framed by the Government Palace and the Cathedral, and functions as Lima's civic and ceremonial centre.
• Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace: The Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace line the main square and contain colonial-era architectural elements and decorative programmes typical of Spanish American cathedrals.
• Convent of San Francisco and catacombs: The Convent of San Francisco and its church are noted for extensive baroque interiors and a network of catacombs beneath the convent buildings that are open on guided tours.