Cultural information on Peru
Sightseeing in Lima
An ideal starting-point is the Plaza Mayor, which is surrounded by a number of interesting buildings. In front of the neo-classicist Palacio de Gobierno the changing of the guard of the Hussar Regiment in their blue and red colonial uniforms of 1821, the year of independence from Spain, takes place on weekdays at 11.45 a.m. On the other side of the square we can see the cathedral. In the first side chapel there is a painting of the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro marching into Lima in the year 1535 as well as his marble coffin. An equestrian statue of Pizarro stands in front of the Government Palace. The Archbishop’s Palace and the Town Hall (Municipalidad, with the Tourist Information) are also worth seeing.
Since 1991 the old part of Lima has been registered as Unesco cultural world heritage, together with the baroque, 17th century Franciscan Convent (Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, opening hours 9.30 a.m – 5.30 p.m., a guided tour is recommended), the absolute highlight of Lima. The visit includes two cloisters with frescos from the life of Saint Francis (15th-17th century), the colourful azulejos (glazed tiles from Sevilla), and huge catacombs.
Sightseeing in Cusco
The former capital of the Inca Empire – from 1200 until 1535 with about 200'000 inhabitants – at an altitude of 3340m has been registered as Unesco cultural world heritage since 1983.
The geographical and cultural centre of the city is the busy Plaza de Armas where at the time of the Incas the ceremonies took place and where even today there is always something happening. Unfortunately there are only very few remains of the original buildings of the Incas: the palaces, churches and residential buildings of the Spanish conquerors were erected on the foundations of the destroyed buildings from the Inca period. The rainbow flag of the Inca Empire flies in the middle of the Plaza even now. The Plaza is surrounded by arcades with numerous shops, particularly those offering gold and silver jewellery, both north of the huge cathedral and southeast of the splendid Jesuit Church (La Compania de Jesùs). From the balcony of the «Norton» Restaurant you have a good view of the Plaza.
The colossal Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman in the north of the city is an absolute must among the many sights Cusco has to offer. We reach it in about an hour’s walk from the old town. From up here we have a splendid view of Cusco. Even today visitors are deeply impressed by the stone colossi from a quarry 20km away, each weighing up to 160 tons. Ten thousands of labourers are said to have worked on this fortress for 70 years until it was eventually conquered by the Spanish commander Pizarro in 1535. Every year on the 24th of June the Sun Festival Inti Raymi takes place here (since 1944).
Visiting Machu Picchu
The mountain city was inhabited by about 15'000 Incas between 1420 and 1535, then suddenly abandoned for reasons that have hitherto not been entirely clarified (epidemics..?). The Spanish conquerors apparently didn’t know about its existence; only in 1911 was it finally discovered by the American Hiram Bingham. Two hills in a subtropical landscape tower above the ruins of the city of Machu Picchu («old peak»), the higher of the two, and Huayna Picchu («young peak»).
Unesco cultural world heritage Machu Picchu
Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Cusco
cultural information on Peru (60kb)