Lima is such a city of contrasts.
From chic boutiques to shanty towns, Lima offers striking contrasts. Discover, historic buildings, seaside surf, shopping centres and a lot of history !
One minute you’re stuck in a traffic jam waiting for the human traffic light (a man in a high-visibility vest in a raised box at the intersection). Next, you’ll be walking along the beautifully manicured Parque central de Miraflores admiring the flower beds and admiring the well-preserved stone buildings in the square.
This sprawling city stretches over 2,800 square kilometers (in comparison Sydney covers 3 square kilometers). Additionally, it has close to 12 million people (1/3 of Peru’s population). It was built on a desert and a lot of the population live in the desert hills that surround the town in makeshift communities called pueblos jóvenes (young towns) or asentamientos humans (human settlements).
These early houses were built from straw, wood, and corrugated iron. They have been patched over and over since, but still don’t have sewerage or running water. You can see them on the surrounding hills. However, it is not advised to venture in here unless with a guide.
Lima has earned UNESCO Heritage status
We visited Lima in May when it was still a bit cool and cloudy but bereft of pesky tourists. We took a walking history tour through the UNESCO World Heritage historic center of Lima.
We learned how it was once called Ciudad de los Reyes (the city of Kings). We also learned it represented the most celebrated Spanish dominion in South America. The tour helped us see how the centuries of war and occupation had shaped the city and lives of the Peruvians in this capital city.
Many of the buildings were constructed around 1500 including hospitals, convents, cathedrals, churches, museums and universities, reflecting the town’s long-standing heritage and connection to learning. Their scale and ornate decor show the town’s status as an important historic center, and many of the buildings have been restored after Lima suffered four major earthquakes between 1940 and 1974.
Our favorites sites in Lima
Plaza Major – the center of government and religious affairs in Lima. This is where the Spanish laid the first foundations for the capital in 1535,and you can see the sprawling Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, and the Archbishop’s Palace.
Convent of San Francisco – built in 1672 this pretty, lemon yellow Baroque building has beautifully detailed facade with an ornate wooden entranceway and very ornate interior.
The Basilica and Convent of San Agustín is a Catholic church built in 1573 with a very intricate baroque timber entranceway with a stone statue of St. Augustine in the center that looks down on you as you enter.
The Parroquia La Virgen Milagrosa – this Catholic church was one of the more austere churches in Lima. It sits in the heart of the Miraflores district next John F Kennedy Park. It has an ornate facade designed by Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski , a polish architect in 1930.
The Cathedral of Lima on the eastern side of the Plaza Mayor (also called the Plaza de Armas) in the historic center of Lima. Flanked by the Archbishop’s Palace and located just steps away from the Government Palace of Peru
From buildings to beaches to shopping
The weather was very stormy in Lima. However, we took a stroll along the clifftop walkway above Miraflores Bay and visited the Larcomar open air shopping center on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You can catch a movie, shop popular brands and even enjoy a game of indoor bowls here. We prefered to peek over the high cliffs and catch glimpses of the surf breaks of Redondo Beach.
If you’re into perusing old and ornate buildings, then popping into Banana Republic for a quick shop, taking a stroll through ancient squares and along sandy beaches, enjoy cheap street food and fancy Peruvian fare, then Lima has a lot to offer!
