We will start our tour of Lima leaving the port of Callao by coach, accompanied by an expert guide who will provide some general historical and cultural information on the capital of Peru, founded on 6 January 1535 by Francisco Pizarro with the name "Ciudad de los Reyes” (the City of Kings), referring to the Three Kings who arrived on the Epiphany.
Today, Lima is the fifth largest city in Latin America with a population of almost 9 million, and it is one of the most important economic and financial centres in the region.
After a quick stop for photos in the heart of the capital, Plaza Mayor, we will head to the first real destination on our excursion, the Cathedral of Lima, a symbol of Catholicism dating back to the early 16th century.
The white building features various architectural styles and two huge spiral twin towers that are visible from every point in the city centre. The central façade features three huge doors and the inside consists of three naves of the same height with 14 chapels at the side, some of which contain an exit onto the street. As we enter through the main door, we will go through the Portada del Perdón (the Door of Forgiveness), with its lavish plateresque style, surrounded by statues of the apostles and the Sacred Heart. Inside the cathedral, which boasts a series of marvellous altars made by Spanish sculptor José Benito de Churriguera and wonderful wooden choir stalls, lies the tomb of famous Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro, who founded the city.
After visiting the cathedral, we will head to Santo Domingo convent, one of the oldest and most important religious sites in the city from a historical perspective. Construction of the convent began in 1530 thanks to Dominican friar Tomás de San Martín and took over 50 years. Today, it is a vast complex dotted with courtyards and decorated with Baroque paintings and ancient tiles. It also houses the tombs of three important Peruvian saints, including San Martín de Porres, the first black saint on the continent.
Our tour will continue with a visit to Lima’s famous Gold Museum, which houses the largest collection of gold and silver artefacts from the ancient pre-Columbian civilisations, in particular the Inca. The collection contains over 7,000 objects (crowns, sceptres, necklaces, bracelets and breastplates, etc.), including precious stones, military uniforms and a collection of around 20,000 weapons from all over the world. The majority of these artefacts were donated to the museum in the '60s by Peruvian diplomat Miguel Mujica Gallo.
After visiting the museum, we will head to the lively Miraflores district and stop for photos in the famous Parque del Amor. The park opened on Valentine’s Day in 1993 and takes its name from the presence of a contemporary sculpture called "The Kiss" by Peruvian artist Victor Delfín, which depicts two lovers in a passionate kiss. In the park, we can admire the various gardens and love-themed sculptures, the mosaics that display romantic quotations and the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
After Parque del Amor, we will head to a local restaurant where a buffet lunch will be waiting for us. We can choose from a wide variety of traditional creole dishes, washed down with a vast selection of drinks.
After lunch, it is time for some shopping as we visit the bustling Indian Market, Lima’s large artisan market where we will stop for about one hour: fabrics, ceramics, jewellery in gold and silver filigree, traditional clothes and colourful alpaca rugs will entice us thanks to the extraordinary creativity of the Peruvian artisans that sell everything.
After visiting the Indian Market, we will get back on our coach to make our way back to the port.