Architecture sights in Lima
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A
Iglesia de Santo Domingo
One of Lima’s most storied religious sites, the Iglesia de Santo Domingo and its expansive monastery are built on land granted to the Dominican Friar Vicente de Valverde, who accompanied Pizarro throughout the conquest and was instrumental in persuading him to execute the captured Inca Atahualpa. Originally completed in the 16th century, this impressive pink church has been rebuilt and remodeled at various points since. It is most renowned as the final resting place for three important Peruvian saints: San Juan Macías, Santa Rosa de Lima and San Martín de Porres (the continent’s first black saint). The convent – a sprawling courtyard-studded complex lined with baroque p…
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B
Iglesia de Las Nazarenas
Iglesia de las Nazarenas is one of Lima’s most storied churches. In the 17th century, the area was a shantytown inhabited by former slaves, and it was here that one of them painted an image of the Crucifixion on a wall that survived the devastating earthquake of 1655. In the 1700s, a church was built around this wall (which serves as the centerpiece of the main altar), and has been rebuilt many times since. But the wall endures, and on October 18 each year a representation of the mural, known as El Señor de los Milagros (Christ of Miracles), is carried around in a tens-of-thousands-strong procession that lasts for days.
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C
Iglesia de la Merced
The first Latin mass in Lima was held in 1534, on a small patch of land now marked by the Iglesia de la Merced. It was originally built in 1541 and then rebuilt several times over the course of the next two centuries. Most of today’s structure dates to the 18th century, with its most striking feature being the imposing granite facade, carved in the churrigueresque manner (a highly ornate style popular during the late Spanish baroque). Inside, the nave is lined by more than two-dozen jaw-droppingly magnificent baroque and Renaissance-style altars, some of which are carved entirely out of mahogany.
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D
Iglesia de San Agustín
Iglesia de San Agustín has an elaborate churrigueresque facade (completed in 1720), replete with stone carvings of angels, flowers, fruit (and, of course, Saint Augustine). Limited operating hours can make it a challenge to visit. The interiors are drab, but the church is home to a curious woodcarving called La Muerte (Death) by 18th-century sculptor Baltazar Gavilán. As one (probably fictional) story goes, Gavilán died in a state of madness after viewing his own chilling sculpture in the middle of the night. The piece sometimes travels, so call ahead.
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E
Casa Aliaga
Innocuously tucked on a side street by the post office is Casa Aliaga, which stands on land given in 1535 to Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of Pizarro’s followers, and which has been occupied by 16 generations of his descendants. It may not look like much from the outside, but the interiors are lovely, with vintage furnishings and tilework. It can only be visited via organized excursions with Lima Tours.
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F
Iglesia de San Pedro
Iglesia de San Pedro is a small 17th-century church considered to be one of the finest examples of baroque colonial-era architecture in Lima. It was consecrated by the Jesuits in 1638 and has changed little since. The interior is sumptuously decorated with gilded altars, Moorish-style carvings and an abundance of glazed tile.
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G
Santuario de Santa Rosa de Lima
Santuario de Santa Rosa de Lima honors the first saint of the Americas in a plain, terra-cotta-hued church on a congested avenue located roughly at the site of her birth. You can find a modest adobe sanctuary in the gardens, built in the 17th century for Santa Rosa’s prayers and meditation.
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H
Casa de la Riva
One historic (if less pristine) casona is the Casa de la Riva, a handsome, 18th-century mansion with beautiful wooden balconies, an elegant patio and period furnishings.
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Casa Pilatos
The easiest mansion to visit is Casa Pilatos , which houses the National Culture Institute; simply knock on the door and a guard will usually let you in for a look around.
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