Colonial Palaces and Plazas

The Churrigueresque facade of the Church of La Merced is carved from dark stone, crowded with saints and angels that seem to spill out of the wall. This church arrived with the Spanish conquest in fifteen thirty-four. When the devastating…

The Casa de Aliaga features a carved wooden balcony that hangs over the sidewalk, a fixture that has remained on the same street corner since fifteen thirty-five. Francisco Pizarro granted this land to his captain, Jeronimo de Aliaga,…

The Government Palace features a heavy, French-baroque facade of cream-colored stone and wide, arched balconies overlooking the Plaza Mayor. Francisco Pizarro built his own residence on this exact spot in fifteen thirty-five, choosing the…

The Plaza Mayor in Lima centers on a bronze fountain cast in sixteen fifty-one, a heavy, tiered structure that has stood through earthquakes and revolutions. Francisco Pizarro laid out this square in fifteen thirty-five, marking the spot…

The Lima Cathedral is defined by its massive, weathered stone facade and the two dark, towering spires that frame the Plaza Mayor. Francisco Pizarro laid the first stone in fifteen thirty-five with his own hands, intending to establish the…

The Basílica and Convent of San Francisco stands out for its bright yellow facade and the intricate, baroque stone carving that frames its main entrance. Built after the devastating earthquake of sixteen fifty-five, the structure serves as…

The Palacio de Torre Tagle features two dark, elaborately carved wooden balconies that hang over the street, their intricate lattice design contrasting with the stark white walls. Built in the early eighteenth century, this residence…