Lima Main Square

Lima Main Square is a stunning blend of colonial architecture, vibrant energy, and rich history. The colorful buildings, the Cathedral, and the Government Palace make it picture-perfect from every angle. The square feels safe, well-maintained, and lively with street performers and locals relaxing. It’s a great place to walk around, take photos, or just sit and soak in the atmosphere. A must-visit if you’re in Lima!

I recently traveled from Cusco to Lima, Peru, and was met with widespread protests. The police presence was heavy, with officers carrying full sets of weapons. The streets were blocked with trash and feces, making it difficult to navigate. To stay safe, we kept our distance and observed from afar. Areas like Miraflores and Barranco felt more secure than the city center.

Nice square with colonial style and architecture, typical for similar plazas actor South America. There are some important buildings around to see. In principal, this is the most worth seeing site of the old part of the city, which otherwise doen not have much to offer.

Beautiful central area with lots of interesting sites in a walkable area including Convent of Santo Domingo, the Catacombs, many shops and restaurants. Great just to walk down the streets, grab an ice cream or a cocktail or check out the many vendors offering everything from alpaca clothing to T-shirts. All around the area are little rounded statuettes of women. I found one covered, instead of colorful paints, with reflective surface. One large stone commemorates the original Inca governing people of the area. Beautiful buildings with a variety of architectures. And the gorgeous tall water fountain in the very center of the square.

An impressive square with many historic buildings. When I was there, I enjoyed not only that, but also the fantastic parade with a wide variety of traditional costumes and music. It was wonderful to see and experience.

Impressive architecture especially beautiful at night when the buildings are lit up at night. A visit into the cathedral is a must. The third Sunday in each month, there is a worthwhile tattoo by the Peruan military guard troop in the presidential courtyard.

Visited on “Good Friday”, a Hugh mass of visitors watched the re enactment of Jesus carrying the cross; Actors portraying various characters as they followed the cross bring carried. Thousands of people in line to enter the massive cathedral. There were mountain tops visible from the square. Walked around the square, viewed the “Presidents Palace, observed the guards ( hoping to see the changing of the guards). At various places within the square, locals were observed weaving palm leaves into beautiful religious art pieces(see photos). Various artist displayed their skills & goods in hopes of making sales or receiving donations. Truly an unforgettable adventure, so much more to see in and around the main square aka “Plaza de Armas”.My photos are just a sampling of the various beautiful architectural designs. This is a part of Lima, I recommend seeing if you don’t see any other part. I estimate at least 500K visitors from various cultures were there during my five hour visit. I observed & listened to various languages within the square. I met a few young men from “Brooklyn, NY, a set if sisters from Charlotte, NC, a family from Merida, Mexico, Ontario Canada, a group of educators from Wichita, Kansas, and Buffalo New York. Truly a Multicultural gathering. Police were within the crowds BUT NO CRIMES COMMITTED. Restaurants served good food and ICE CREME.

We spent a leisurely day exploring the heart of Lima and made our way to the city’s beautiful main square—Plaza Mayor, also known as Plaza de Armas. This historic square is the birthplace of Lima, founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, and has remained the political and cultural center of the city ever since. Surrounding the square are several of Lima’s most important colonial-era buildings, including the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, and the Lima Cathedral. The blend of Spanish colonial architecture and vibrant local activity gives the square a timeless charm. While we were there, we were fortunate to witness a Catholic procession passing through the square—an experience that brought the city’s deep-rooted religious traditions to life. The area is perfect for capturing great photos, soaking in the local atmosphere, and appreciating Lima’s rich history and living culture.