The best tour to become familiar with Lima and its history

This excursion offers the best combination of the differents attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-hispanic, colonial and contemporary.In Lima, there were several different pre-columbian cultures which are dated thousands of years back. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until was founded by the spaniard Francisco Pizarro on the 18th. of January, 1535. During our guided tour we will travel along its millenary history.

ANCESTRAL LIMA.At the Huaca Pucllana, an archaeological precint build in the IV century A.C., we will have a panoramic view of this magnificent ceremonial and administrative centre which was considered by the Incas a holy village. We will learn about the life and rituals of its ancient inhabitants and admire its typical piramidal building, very characteristic of sacred pre-hispanic edifications which were adored in the coast of Perú.

COLONIAL LIMA. The peruvian Viceroyalty was the most important one in the Spanish Empire and Lima was its capital. The highlights of its historical centre are its architecture and the urban design of the city, found in thold streets filled with colonial houses adorned with moorish-style balconies. Our trip includes the Paseo de la Republica (Promenade of the Republic), Plaza San Martin(San Martin Square) and the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), with their different buildings: Palacio de Gobierno(Government Palace), Palacio Arzobispal the (Archibishop's Palace), the Basilica Catedral (Cathedral Basilica) and the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace).

In its historic centre we shall visit one of its most beaautiful buildings, the Museum of the Banco Central de Reserva, where we can admire Perú's treasures: a fine selection of objects made in gold, ceramics and textiles of its different pre-columbian cultures, ranging since their origins to Inca times (1).We will enter the monumental Convento de San Francisco (Convent of Saint Francis), which displays the biggest collection of religious art in America. We can admire the Choir Room and the Monks’ Library, the Sacristy, with its collection of Zurbaran and Rivera paintings. The Big Patio of the Main Cloister, decorated with sevillan tyles from the XVI century, its beautiful moorish arches and its subterranean crypts known as The Catacombs, where you will feel the presence of Lima's colonial past.

CONTEMPORARY LIMA Visit to the most traditional residential areas in the capital: The Olive Grove of San Isidro, Miraflores and Larco Mar, distinctive tourist centre of contemporary Lima.

(1) Museum of Banco Central de Reserva, closed to the public on Saturdays and Sundays afternoon and Monday all day.* The promotions and visit of this pamphlet can change or finalize without previous warning.