Lima Main Square

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.

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.

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.

Beautiful Square. The colonial buildings are stunning, and the surrounding streets are as well. There was a wedding in the cathedral, and they played the traditional waltz with the bells. It was really nice to see. Then, there was the traditional change of guards at noon at the government palace with a 20-minute show. There're many historical places to visit, places to eat and shop.

The grand dame of Lima’s history - Plaza Mayor de Lima, where colonial guilt meets postcard charm. Founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro (whose statue was exiled, then sneakily reinstated), this place has seen it all.. declarations of independence, public executions, and more balcony drama than a telenovela. Surrounded by impressive facades like the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, and City Hall, it’s like standing in the middle of a well-behaved architectural argument. The bronze fountain in the center has outlived more presidents than Peru can count, and once even served pisco to the masses, viva la fuente! Come for the history, stay for the perfectly photogenic symmetry. But don’t expect solitude, the only thing louder than the tour groups are the pigeons claiming turf like feathered conquistadors. Still, whether you’re admiring colonial craftsmanship or plotting escape from the sun, Plaza Mayor delivers drama, dignity and a dash of Spanish déjà vu.

Must Visit in Lima! We happened to be there on a Sunday and there was a cultural parade happening! The parade was so long and nice to see the cultural dance side of Peru! We also saw the change of guards (wasn’t so exciting)! But overall, a very exciting place and it’s a must visit!

The Square has themed historical heritage and great proportions. No traffic allowed, so particularly nice to find one area in the city that is quiet!

Quite sunny day May 1st, only a few visitors early morning . Nice views of state buildings , perfect architecture