Lima

13th August 2010

Lima, Peru´s capital, was founded in 1535 by the Spaniard Pizarro and became the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru.  In 1991, UNESCO declared the city centre a historical monument.  Downtown contains many impressive colonial churches and 19th century houses with stunning balconies as well as lovely plant filled plazas.  Lima also boasts the oldest bullring in the Americas and the third oldest in the world.

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The area around Lima had been inhabited for thousands of years and in the nearby suburb of Miraflores is Huaca Pucllana, a pre Columbian ceremonial complex made from adobe bricks.

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The Government Palace on the Plaza de Armas

The Government Palace on the Plaza de Armas

Lima´s Cathedral

Lima´s Cathedral

The Archbisop´s Palace

The Archbisop´s Palace

Lima downtown

Lima downtown

Osambela House

Osambela House

San Francisco Monastery has extensive catacombs underneath

San Francisco Monastery has extensive catacombs underneath

Santuario de Santa Roas de Lima

Santuario de Santa Roas de Lima

Carved front of the Iglesia de San Agustin

Jeff checking out the carved front of the Iglesia de San Agustin

Iglesia de San Marcelo

Iglesia de San Marcelo

Convento de Santo Domingo

Convento de Santo Domingo

Courtyard inside the Convent features tiles from Spain (1606)

Courtyard inside the Convent features tiles from Spain (1606)

Stained glass windows with Lima´s Saints

Stained glass windows of Lima´s Saints

Detail of the entrance to the Iglesia de la Merced

Detail of the entrance to the Iglesia de la Merced

Iglesia de San Pedro

Iglesia de San Pedro

Central Lima building (19th century)

Central Lima building (19th century)

The sculptor was told to put llamas (flames) on her head but put llamas (llamas)

The sculptor was told to put llamas (as in flames) on her head but put llamas (as in llamas)

This bullring is the oldest in the Americas and still used

This bullring is the oldest in the Americas and still used

Building in Miraflores (suburb of Lima)

Building in Miraflores (suburb of Lima)

Miraflores church

Miraflores church

Pyramid of Huaca Pucllana

Pyramid of Huaca Pucllana

The shark was important to the pre Inca Lima people

The shark was important to the pre Inca Lima people

Pre Inca funeral masks

Pre Inca funeral masks

Clay figure found at the Huaca Pucllana site

Clay figure found at the Huaca Pucllana site

Succulents grow well in Lima´s desert climate

Succulents grow well in Lima´s desert climate

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