Category: "Lima City Guide"

Intact Wari tomb at the Huaca Pucllana

August 26th, 2008 |

Built by the Lima Culture, the Huaca Pucllana eventually came under the control of the vast Huari (or Wari) Empire. Although various Wari artefacts have been discovered here, this is the first Wari-period tomb to be uncovered.

Destruction of Lima’s architectural heritage [Featured]

August 19th, 2008 |

Lima grows ever higher. In districts like Miraflores, Chorrillos, Barranco and San Isidro are loosing more and more of of their traditional homes, the majority of which built in the early 1900s. They are forced to make way for grand towers and modern apartments that ignore the style of the surrounding area and simply don’t fit. Worse still many defy urban-planning rules implemented by local municipalities.

Japanese hostage crisis and Operation Chavin de Huantar

August 18th, 2008 |

In the evening of the 17th of December 1996, hundreds of senior diplomats, government ministers and other VIPs were attending a party at the official residence of Japan’s ambassador to Peru, Morihisha Aoki, in celebration of Emperor Akihito’s 63rd birthday.

Lunahuaná

August 12th, 2008 |

The town of Lunahuaná, in the Cañete river valley in the southern end of the Lima region near Ica, is the furthest of what are considered Lima’s weekend getaway spots. At about 2 and a half hours away, passing through the towns of Cañete and Nuevo Imperial, is the pretty little colonial town and adventure sports centre of the region.

One Day in Lima

August 6th, 2008 |

This amazing video named “Huk Punchaw”, Quechua for “One Day”, is the work of Oswaldo Villavicencio and Eva Machado. Winning the prize of Best Documentary in 2006 in a competition run by Peruvian art school Toulouse, it shows a single day in Peru’s capital from dawn to dusk. Enjoy.

Museo Nacional de Arqueología, Antropología e Historia del Perú

August 4th, 2008 |

If you plan to visit only one museum while in Lima it should probably be this one. The National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru beats the Museo de la Nacion, which can close for a month or two at a time with little notice, hands down. Located in the district of Pueblo Libre, in the beautiful little plaza, there’s no excuse not to try some of Lima’s world-renowned food while you are there.

El Bolivariano

August 3rd, 2008 |

One of Lima’s classic restaurants along with the Cordano, El Bolivariano sits in the heart of Pueblo Libre, just a short work from the plaza, and is named after the liberation fighter Simón Bolívar who lived here for some time. Occupying two old buildings, one of which was part of an 18th century church, the restaurant has a wonderful rustic atmosphere.

Santiago Queirolo

August 2nd, 2008 |

One of Peru’s many Italian immigrants, Santiago Queirolo Raggio arrived in Magdalena Vieja, now Pueblo Libre, in 1880s. In this time Magdalena Vieja was surrounded by an expanse of countryside and the city of Lima was some distance away by horse.

Pueblo Libre

August 1st, 2008 |

Once a small town outside Lima on the way to the port of Callao, Pueblo Libre still maintains its colonial looks and that small town feel.

Now deep in the centre of the metropolis that is Lima and Callao – one of South America’s biggest cities – Pueblo Libre manages to remain relatively quiet. Only a couple large thoroughfares pass through the district – and the streets just off of these are mostly residential.

Cruz del Viajero

July 2nd, 2008 |

Placed by Franciscan monks in 1672 in the small town of Magdalena Vieja, now Pueblo Libre, the Traveller’s Cross followed a tradition started by Conquistador Francisco Pizarro, a tradition that required the placement of a cross on the main routes to other parts of the country.

Peru’s Firefighters

May 29th, 2008 |

With a reckless disregard for their own well-being and a commendable regard for the well-being of others, Peru’s firefighters are nothing short of heroes. And it’s not just their physical health they put at risk, it’s their financial health too – Peru’s bomberos are all unpaid volunteers.

Wong, superstar of supermarkets

May 13th, 2008 |

I previously confessed my love of the Wong supermarket chain, and explained its history here, but this article in a British newspaper goes further to explain just how wonderful the service can be compared to the simple supermarkets you find elsewhere in the world.