Lima Tourist Attractions

San Francisco Monastery and Church

The San Francisco Monastery and Church (Iglesia de San Francisco) is most
famous for its catacombs, containing the bones of tens of thousands of bodies.
This was Lima's first cemetery. Narrow hallways beneath the Church of San
Francisco are lined on each side with bones. In one area, a large round hole in
the ground is filled with bones and skulls arranged in a geometrical form, like a
piece of art. If mass is taking place upstairs the sound reverberating through
the catacombs is very eerie.
The library, on the upper level, has thousands of historical and antique books
and documents. The San Francisco Monastery also has an impressive collection
of religious art. It is probably best known for a mural of the last supper
depicting the apostles dining on guinea pig and a devil standing next to Judas.
The San Francisco Monastery and Church was consecrated in 1673 and is one
of the best preserved colonial churches in Lima. It withstood the earthquakes of
1687 and 1746 but did suffer extensive damage in a quake in 1970.
Visiting the catacombs may be a problem for those who are claustrophobic. The
ceiling is very low and the doorways from one chamber to the next are very
small, requiring people to duck down to enter. It's also like a maze, with poorly
lit hallways leading in different directions. However, the catacombs are visited
at the end of the tour and visitors can decide to wait out the underground
portion at the top of the stairs near the open courtyard.
Address: Plazuela de Sanfrancisco, Peru
Gold Museum
As the name suggests the Museo de Oro houses a huge collection of gold with
thousands of pieces of gold, silver, and copper. The museum suffered a major
set back in 2001 and was closed for a period of time when some pieces on
display were found to be fakes. Just how many pieces is a matter of some
debate. A scandal ensued and now only authentic gold pieces are on display.
Despite this, the museum still has credibility problems and sees fewer visitors
than it once did.
On display are funerary masks, jewelry, ceremonial knives, figurines, and other
pieces acquired from a variety of archeological sites throughout Peru. There are
pieces from Chavn, Vicus, Moche, Chim, Inca, Chancay, Paracas, Nazca and
Tihuanaco cultures. In addition to the metal works, the Museo do Oro also
contains a collection of textiles, stone carvings and ceramics.
Upstairs is the Arms Museum, displaying weapons from around the world ,
representing a variety of time periods.`

The Museo de Oro is entirely privately owned, with pieces being acquired
primarily by buying from tomb robbers.
Address: Alonso de Molina 1100, Peru
National Archaeology, Anthropology, and History Museum
The National Archaeology, Anthropology, and History Museum (Museo Nacional
de Arqueologa, Antropologa, e Historia) explores the history of Peru from
prehistoric times to the colonial era. Although it is not as large as the Museo de
la Nacion, the Museo Nacional de Arqueologa, Antropologa, e Historia museum
does an excellent job of laying out the displays in an organized manner. Visitors
are not overwhelmed by the amount of material, making it easier to
understand.
On display are ceramics, stone carvings of figures and obelisks, wrapped
mummies and burial tombs, jewelry, tapestries, gold and metal work, and scale
models of many archeological sites. The ceramic collection features pieces
which date from 2800 BC, as well as a selection of erotic figures. The stone
carved obelisks include the granite Tello Obelisk and the famous Estela
Raimondi.
The National Archaeology, Anthropology, and History Museum also offers
visitors the opportunity to walk through the adjacent home, once occupied by
both Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar.
Address: Casona de la Quinta de los Liberatadores, Plaza Bolivar, Pueblo Libre,
Peru
Church of Las Nazarenas
Inglesia de Las Nazarenas (Church of the Nazarenas) has a unique history. This
area was once inhabited by freed black slaves and was little more than a
shanty town. An ex-slave painted a mural of the crucifixion of Christ on the side
of a wall, known as El Seor de los Milagros. In 1655 an earthquake leveled
most of this area but left the wall in tact. It was regarded as a miracle and
Inglesia de Las Nazarenas was built around the wall which contained the image.
An oil replica is now mounted on this wall which stands behind the altar. Each
year on October 18, during the El Seor de los Milagros festival, the painting is
paraded through the streets with a procession that numbers in the thousands.
The Las Nazarenas is located in Central Lima, several blocks east of the Plaza
de Armas.
Address: Huancavelica and Tacna Ave, Peru
National Museum
The Museo de la Nacion (National Museum) is the largest museum in Lima and
the best place to begin exploring Peru's ancient history and gain an
understanding of Peruvian culture. The museum covers the entire archeological
history of Peru from the first inhabitants to the Inca Empire. Exhibits are laid

out in chronological order, showing the advances from one culture to the next.
On display are impressive collections of ceramics and textiles, as well as
illustrations and models. Archeological sites, including Machu Picchu and Nazca
lines are recreated with scale models. Most impressive is the replica of the
grave of the Lord Sipan.
In addition to the permanent collection Museo de la Nacion also has changing
exhibits. Most displays are in Spanish and English.
Address: Av. Javier Preado Este 2465, San Borja, Peru

Larco Museum
Located south of central Lima in Pueblo Libre is the Rafael Larco Herrera
Museum, more commonly referred to as just the Larco Museum. It is housed in
an 18th Century viceroy mansion built on the site of a 7th Century preColombian pyramid. The Larco Museum contains a huge collection of ceramics
with more than 40,000 pieces, although many are in storage and not on
displayl. A large portion of the collection is from the Moche and Chim cultures.
They also have a collection erotic pottery, which is off limits to children.
In addition to the ceramics the Larco Museum also has an excellent gold
collection and some textiles, stone carvings, and metalwork.
Address: Av. Bolivar 1515, Pueblo Libra, Peru
Museum of the Inquisition and Congress
The Museum of the Inquisition and Congress (Museo de la Inquisicin y del
Congreso) is housed in a restored mansion that was used by the Spanish
Inquisition from 1570 to 1820 and eventually became the Senate building.
Exhibits explain the history and impact of the Inquisition. Visitors can tour
underground rooms once used as torture chambers for those accused of
heresy. Some of the instruments used to torture victims are on display. The
basement of the Museum of the Inquisition is also home to a wax exhibit with
life like figures being tortured by various methods. Upstairs is the university
library, noted for its carved wooden ceiling.
The Museum of the Inquisition and Congress is located on the Plaza Bolivar in
central Lima.
Address: Jr. Junin 548, Peru
Santa Rosa of Lima Sanctuary
Santa Rosa, whose birth name was Isabel Flores de Oliva, was born in Lima.
The Sanctuario de Santa Rosa de Lima (Church and Sanctuary of Santa Rosa)
was built at the location of her birth place. Santa Rosa devoted her life to
caring for the ill and was canonized by Pope Clemente X, in 1671. Many still

pray to her for miracles related to health and illness. She is the patron saint of
the Americas, the Indies, and the Philippines, as well as the Peruvian National
Police Force.
In the garden of the Sanctuario de Santa Rosa de Lima is the hermitage built by
Santa Rosa and her brother, and the well where parishioners come to throw
written requests for miracles.
Address: 1st Block of Tacna, Peru
Santo Domingo Church and Monastery
Built in 1540 on land given to the Dominican Friar Vincente Valverde by
Francisco Pizarro, the church of Santo Domingo (Inglesia y convento de Santo
Domingo) is one of the oldest and most historic in Lima. Santo Domingo is
home to the remains of Saint Rose of Lima, Saint Martin de Porres, who was the
first black saint in the Americas, and San Jaun Masias. There is a statue of Saint
Rose on display which was given to Santo Domingo by Pope Clement X.
In the monastery are tile mosaics which depict the life of Santo Domingo de
Guzman, who founded the Dominican order. There is also a pleasant central
garden.
The Church of Santo Domingo is located a short walk northwest of Plaza de
Armas in central Lima.
Zoo: Parque de las Leyendas
The Lima Zoo, officially known as "Parque de las Leyendas" displays a wide
variety of native Peruvian animals and birds, as well as animals from around
the world. The enclosures are large but allow for some close encounters
between humans and wildlife. The resident giraffe will often stretch his neck
out over the fence to lick he hands of children and wait to be petted. The water
buffalos also seem comfortable standing in areas where visitors are free to
touch them. In addition to the animals there is also a display on mining and a
petroleum exhibit.
The Lima Zoo is only a short cab ride from the airport and a good place to
spend a few hours if you have a layover in Lima.
Address: Av. La Marina, block 24, Peru
China Town
Southeast of the Plaza de Armas, near the Central Market, is the start of China
Town, or Barrio Chino as it is called. It is easily recognizable by the Chinese
Arch over the entrance. Lima's China Town is primarily known for its ChinesePeruvian cuisine, which is famed for being the best in Lima. The area also has a
few temples and interesting stores if you have some extra time. For visitors
spending the day sightseeing in central Lima, this is a great area to stop for
lunch, but probably doesn't warrant a great deal of time for touring around. The
main street in China Town is Capn

Miraflores
Miraflores is a suburb of Lima, located just south of Central Lima. Situated on
the cliffs above the ocean, Miraflores is home to modern office buildings and
high rises, with a few colonial style homes and hotels mixed in. It also has
some beautiful green spaces along the cliff tops overlooking the water. Locals
use the cliffs for hang gliding and the beaches below are frequented by surfers.
Miraflores is one of the more affluent suburbs and generally considered to be a
safer area of the city. Travelers often choose to stay in this area because of the
great restaurants, hotels, and shopping, as well as the safety issue.
Prices in this area are generally higher than in Central Lima for everything,
including dining, shopping, and accommodation.
Amano Museum
Located in Miraflores, Museo Amano (Amano Museum) houses the private
collection of Mr. Yoshitaro Amano, who the museum is named after. On display
are ceramics and textiles, organized chronologically to illustrate the differences
and advances from one culture to the next. Although there are a range of PreColumbian cultures represented, including Chimu and Nazca, the Museo Amano
is best known for its remarkable collection of textiles from the Chancay culture.
This is a lesser known culture from the northern coast and consequently not
seen as much in other museums. Guided tours of Museo Amano are available
to small groups only and last about one hour. Tours must be booked in advance.
Address: Retiro 160, 11th block of Av. Angamos, Miraflores, Peru