Lima is one of the most interesting and challenging cities in South America with a huge archaeological, historical, and cultural past. Long before the Common Era until the Spaniards' many highly advanced cultures settled the area of today's Lima. Even nowadays they amaze us with their complex skills in construction, agriculture and arts. The Spanish colonists added to this legendary cultural legacy. This completely different culture with European and Moorish influences is mixed with the indigenous cultural and religious inheritance. In the last couple of hundred years, immigrants from Africa and Asia added their part.

Our listing of selected huacas or archaeological complexes includes sites that were at least partially spared from destruction and deterioration. Some of them stand out right in the middle of the vast metropolis as a permanent reminder of the great cultures in the Lima region.

Huacas Today in Lima

The area of today's Lima City and Province has been already inhabited for many thousands of years. That's the reason you will find hundreds of ancient settlements hidden somewhere in Lima and the surroundings. But only around 250 archaeological sites and huacas in the capital are registered with the National Institute of Culture (INC). These ancient historical sites and buildings are spread over the traditional and modern districts of Lima. Explorers and archaeologists rediscovered a few hundreds of years back many of these historical monuments, but their findings were until a few years back ignored. Unfortunately, until today only a few huacas are cared for, preserved, restored or investigated appropriately. Most of the valuable reminders of Limas rich archaeological and historical past seem to be forgotten. They are neglected, left to deteriorate and exposed to Limas urban expansion. You can find for example residences, small plantations, rubbish, a soccer field or even a garage in an archaeological complex or on top of an ancient temple. So it is not surprising to even see major roads literally cutting through a historical complex.

Awareness for Cultural Patrimony

Luckily, the awareness for Limas cultural patrimony grew in the last years. Thanks to the efforts of the Peruvian government, the Municipality of Lima, cultural institutions, archaeologists, companies and citizens' projects were started to save at least a few of these ancient relics. Huacas like "Huaca Mateo Salado" in Pueblo Libre, "Huaca Santa Cruz" in San Isidro, "Huaca Santa Catalina" in La Victoria, "Huaca Huantille" in Magdalena, "Huaca San Borja" in San Borja, "Huaca Rosada" in San Miguel, "Huaca Capillo" in Ventanilla and the "Archaeological Complex of Puruchuco" in Ate are being preserved from further deterioration, investigated and restored. These enormous efforts and the costs involved pay off: Once investigations of the huacas began, archaeologists recovered magnificent structures built by ancient Limeños, valuable artifacts and mummies within a short time. Day by day more information and details about the life, culture, religion, social structure, skills, techniques and abilities regarding arts and handicrafts are revealed.

Lima, nowadays is a bustling, chaotic and quite noisy city, has a rich historical and architectural heritage. When Francisco Pizarro founded Lima in 1535 on an existing indigenous settlement, he had explicit orders by the Spanish crown on how to create and organize the city. They based the design and layout of Limas historical Center on the model of cities in Spain, especially Seville. The same applies for the first Colonial houses in Lima.

Initially, the first mansions were all built block (Spanish = Cuadra) by block around Plaza Mayor in a chessboard style and with specific rules as determined by Francisco Pizarro (exact length of one block = 400 feet / 122m and a precise width of the streets = 40 foot / 12.2m). During the Colonial times, the Spanish immigrants developed their own unique architectural style. The origins of this style were very similar to the typical Arabic-Moorish architecture in Spain. The settlers had to adapt to the local environment like earthquakes or the inferiority of building materials, and so soon a very characteristic architectural style developed.

Good examples of unique architectural factors are the famous balconies of Lima; most of them closed balconies with jalousies, of Moorish origin but with an absolutely distinctive Lima style and character. Lima known as the "City of Kings" and "City of Gardens" was soon famous for these extraordinary balconies and known as the "City of Balconies". Lima had so many balconies that nobody ever thought they would be some day something special. The principal reason for building closed balconies was that the first immigrants thought it would be inappropriate for their women to be seen from a window, an open balcony, or when going outside. Therefore, closed balconies like in North-Africa were built, allowing the high society ladies of Lima to see what was going on outside but without being seen.

We know plazas or city squares in every culture around the world. As long as there have been settlements, villages or cities, there have been mostly centrally located places where the citizens came together. These public places were the center of urban life. In many cities the most important buildings like the city council or the main church are at these plazas. Very typical for Peru you'll find in the middle monuments, statues or fountains. The city squares used to be the place for official declarations, executions, coronations and gatherings, but as well for all kinds of social activities like festivities, processions, games, spectacles and celebrations. Located around were shops where everyone could satisfy their needs. The plazas represented the town itself, its power, influence and reputation.

As everywhere in the world, also in Peru, they had an important role in the economic development of every town. Lima is no exception. Its main square, the Plaza Mayor, for example, was since Lima's foundation in 1535 the place for many political, economical and social activities important for the town and its population. Other great plazas and parks never reached the importance of the Plaza Mayor, but still fulfilled similar purposes.

Lima's Plazas Today

Today Lima's many plazas are a constant reminder of the colonial and republican history of the city. Many are beautifully restored and looked after; they still represent what Lima once has been, an influential and wealthy city in the Americas.