The capital of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and the Viceroyalty of Peru couldn’t have a grander plaza than Plaza Mayor in Lima. With its trademark yellow buildings, balconies, cathedral, and presidential palace, there may not be a finer example of a Spanish plaza in the world. The plaza is fitting for Lima’s nickname, “The City of Kings”.
San Francisco Convent (Convento de San Francisco) is one of the most important and most visited monasteries and churches in Lima. It was built in 1557 and rebuilt in 1672 after an earthquake, and was finally completed in 1774.
The historic center of Lima has some beautiful colonial churches dating from the 16th century. They’re included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the city.
The UNESCO World Heritage listed historic city center of Lima has several of interesting sites, beautiful architecture, and plazas. Unfortunately, many of the buildings were closed because my visit fell on Peru’s Independence Day. The city center is easily accessible via the Lima Metropolitano.
Plaza San Martín opened on July 28, 1921, the 100th anniversary of Peru’s independence. It’s located within Lima’s UNESCO World Heritage listed historic city center.
Lima’s bohemian district lies in the neighborhood of Barranco. It’s a beautiful area popular with artists, musicians, and Lima’s elite. It is reached easily on the Metropolitano at Bulevar Sation (Estacion Bulevar).
I’ll be honest. There’s not a whole lot to see in Miraflores, but I love the vibe of this upscale Lima neighborhood. For me, it’s the best place to stay, has some great places to eat, shopping, beaches, and a lot of entertainment options. It’s also easy to get around on foot in Miraflores.
When my bus to Uyuni was cancelled because of a protest and roadblock, I decided to hop on another bus to Potosí. It was once the richest city in the world because of its silver mines and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. I went to the La Paz bus station and stopped at four or five different companies before I found Trans Copacabana, who offered a cama, or reclining bed, for the 10 hour overnight trip. My goal was to see as much of Potosí as possible and find a way to break the roadblock and get to Uyuni.
An hour after the bribing incident, we pulled up to Copacabana, a tiny town on the shores of Lake Titicaca that happens to be the namesake for the famous beach in Rio de Janeiro.
There’s a lot to discover in La Paz. I focused my short visit on the street markets and three plazas in the city center.