Peru-Destination Spots

Lima

Founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Lima is the capital of Peru today. However Pizarro did not anticipate that this city will become a political and military capital of Peru due to its unfriendliness. From the architectural stand point, the city is dominated by the colonial style, as well as the neoclassicism. When visiting Lima, some of the main attractions the city has to offer are the Plaza de Armas, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Archbishop's Palace, the Church of San Francisco, the Museum of the Inquisition, the Plaza San Martín, district of Miraflores, as well as the Barranco bohemian quarter. With almost a third of Peru’s total population residing around this metropolitan city, the rich experience is guaranteed when traveling to Lima.

Cusco

Cusco used to be the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. As a result it is full of historical artifacts which bring thousands of tourists on a yearly basis to this part of the world. Today the city has a more of a modern look to it with the population of 140 thousand people. The most surprising and interesting in Cusco is its architecture. Massive walls, piles of artfully selected stones, demonstrate the power of civilization, which is five centuries ago ruled much of the South American continent. The Spaniards tried to destroy the traces of the "pagan" culture, but it was a daunting task for them. As a result, they had to erect their own buildings on the foundations of the Incas. When visiting Cusco, there are plenty sightseeing to do for tourists; some of the famous places are Cathedral in Plaza de Armas, the Church of El Triunfo, and the Church of the Holy Family, the Church of Santo Domingo, Santa Catalina Monastery, and a museum of religious art.

Arequipa

Although Arequipa is located far from Lima in an isolated location between the desert and the mountains, its unique location on the way to Bolivia's silver mines has resulted in Arequipa growing into the city with the largest number of Spanish citizens with the richest of European traditions. Today, Arequipa, with houses made of white volcanic stone, remains the second most important city in Peru. Plaza de Armas, the church of La Compagnia, the monastery of Santa Catalina are just a few of places one needs to see when visiting this side of Peru. In the two-hour drive from Arequipa, Peru has the deepest canyon in the world in Colca Canyon; it is more than 1000 m deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States.