Lima Peru on 19/09/08

Lima, Peru.

 

Lima, Peru is one of the best cities in the world to visit when looking to discover a new culture. The city plazas, museums, festivals and other activities in Lima will add cultural richness to any backpacking trip.

As the capital of Peru, Lima is situated on the coast over the Pacific Ocean and was once known as “La Ciudad de los Reyes.” “The City of Kings” was named and founded by a Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, in 1532. However, before the Spaniards took over, the city was inhabited and controlled by the Inca Empire. In 1821, Lima and the rest of Peru were declared independent by Jose de San Martin. Now, two thirds of the population of Peru occupies Lima. Furthermore, UNESCO declared Lima a World Heritage Site in 1988 mostly due to the large number of historical buildings from the era of Spanish occupation.

When visiting Lima, travelers should make an effort to stop by the Cathedral in Plaza Mayor. The Presidential Palace as well as the catacombs of the Convento de San Francisco are great tourist destinations as well. The Cathedral, originally built in 1564, was designed by Francisco Pizarro himself and perfectly matches the era of baroque architecture of Spain. While touring the cathedral, visit Pizarro himself as, fittingly, his tomb remains with Lima in the Cathedral. The plaza that houses the Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas, is a landmark for most tourists and even for locals. The entire plaza is flanked by colonial style architecture that though wounded by several earthquakes, still stands as a tribute to Peru’s colonial past. The plaza is marked by a large 17th century bronze fountain. To the north of this statue lies the Government Palace and every weekday at precisely 12:45pm visitors can view the changing of the guard.

The Convento, or Monastery of San Francisco boasts many tourists a year due to its 17th century architecture and maze of catacombs beneath the city plaza. Ceramic tiles, characteristic of Moorish, southern Spanish style architecture speckle the Convento. Though mandatory, a tour through the Convento offers descriptions of the various religious art throughout the building. Of most interest, however, are the catacombs. First created in 1546 the Catacombs were to be used as burial grounds for priests and other high officials of the Church. Visitors wind their way down the dusty catacombs to the various levels of bone piles, characteristic of the Convento. One floor is artfully decorated in a round floor setting, alternating skulls and femur bones creating an odd, yet fascinating mosaic of interred body parts. To see all of the Convento, allot at least an hour and a half for an English guided tour. These historic sites are located within Lima’s downtown known as “El Centro.”

Lima has thirty districts, all of which are extremely populated. Travelers frequent San Isidro, the city’s financial district. This upscale neighborhood is home to Peruvian politicians and celebrities as well as parks. Parque El Olivar is filled with olive tress brought over by the Spanish colonizers during the 17th century. Another famous district is Miraflores, an upscale area marked by luxurious shops and restaurants. The best place to visit for shopping is the Larcomar shopping center that boasts bars, clubs, a movie theater, cafes and boutiques. The center was built on the cliffs off the Pacific Ocean.

There are many hotel and hostel options available for backpackers trekking through Lima. The Flying Dog Hostels have four locations in Lima, each situated at a main tourist destination ensuring an accommodation near a planned destination.

Stop and Drop Lima Hostel is right next to Miraflores, perfectly situated near the best bars, clubs and restaurants. Moreover, Stop and Drop offers rafting, hiking, safari opportunities, surfing, hang- gliding, volunteer opportunities AND Spanish courses.