Historic Centre / Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor de Lima

The place where Pizarro founded Lima in 1535, surrounded by the cathedral, Government Palace, city hall and archbishop's palace. It is the heart of the World Heritage old town.

The Plaza Mayor (its official name) was the center Francisco Pizarro laid out when he founded Lima in 1535. Around it stand, in order, Lima Cathedral (which holds Pizarro's tomb; admission is about 30 soles, including the Museum of Religious Art), the Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace, where between roughly 11:45 and 12:00 on weekdays you can watch the guard change from outside the railings), the city hall, and the archbishop's palace with its enclosed balcony of carved wood (interior visits are allowed, about 20 soles). The bronze fountain in the center, dating from 1651, is the oldest relic in the old town. Starting from the square, you can cover the old town's highlights on foot. Two blocks north is the San Francisco Monastery. Heading south along the pedestrian street Jirón de la Unión brings you to San Martín Square, passing Casa de Aliaga (a house from 1535 still lived in by the same family; reservations required), the Church of La Merced and the Convent of Santo Domingo, whose tower can be climbed for views of the old town. It is best to start in the morning at the square and finish in the afternoon at San Martín Square. The whole route takes 3 to 4 hours. Getting there: from Miraflores, an Uber takes about 30 to 40 minutes, or you can take the Metropolitano rapid bus to Jirón de la Unión station. Notes: police presence is heavy and the area is safe during the day, but keep cameras and phones put away. Roads in front of the Government Palace are often closed for protests. Some museums close on Sundays, and churches should not be visited during Mass.

Historic Centre / Plaza Mayor

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