Houses to visit in the centre of Lima. Take in your history!

Hello everybody! I hope that you are all well! During the colonial and republican era, the center of Lima was surrounded by beautiful colonial houses. Some of them have disappeared over time and also due to the little value that these historic monuments have been given.

They say that the best way to get to know a city is by walking around and making the most of it, which in Lima is all very close together. I want to take this opportunity to give you some recommendations of the the most beautiful houses in Lima!

Without further introduction, lets start with these recommendations and lets take a short trip through each ones history.

1. Casa Aliaga (House of the Aliaga family)

The first house that I want to reccommend, has the privilege of being the oldest house, in terms of it being inhabited, generation after generation. The Aliaga house is located on the left side of the Government Palace and it dates back to the founding of Lima. These environments are managed by the same Aliaga family that has been there for 17 generations since its creation.

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In the Aliaga house, you will find pebbled patios as well as a large tree. As if wasn't enough, inside, you can copy how the people from Lima lived, in the colonial era, . In this house you can also appreciate a small chapel which was used exclusively by the Aliaga family. To explore the Aliaga house, you will have to pay an entrance fee. From the outside it may seem small, but so are we! You will be surprised when you go in and see all of the things that you can experience in its installations which have been very well maintained through time.

2. Casa Riva Agüero (House of the Riva Agüero family)

The next option that I want to recommend to you is a reddish coloured house, located in the heart of the centre of Lima and it's street is not so busy even though it is parallel to the street 'jirón de la unión', . It is a house that is more that 250 years old and like the Aliaga house, it has its own personal chapel.It is currently owned by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. It is free to go in and I advise you to visit it and see all of the furniture inside since it is some of the most majestic that we have in Lima. On the other hand, I also want to tell you that the house has a library called Victor Andrés Belaunde and as if that wasn't enough, there is also a newspaper library. This house is also home to the Museum of Popular Art and Traditions where there are more than 10 thousand photographic pieces. A strange detail that you will be able to appreciate at the entrance is some cannons in the excavations which are in the process of being restored.

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3. Casa de Torre y Tagle (House of the Torre Tagle family)

Located in the pedestrian Ucayali street, the house or also known as Palace of Torre and Tagle is the current headquarters of the chancellery of Peru. It is of a typical structure in Lima and its construction dates back to the 18th century. One feature that I recommend you to appreciate is the balconies which are located on its second floor as they are considered the most beautiful balconies in Lima. They are made from wood and have a coffered ceiling and lattice detailing which could only be seen from the inside of the balcony and not by the pedestrians in the city of Lima. I recommend that you walk by and take a photo of the front of the house since it is not a museum but it is quite popular with people appreciating the beauty of its balconies.

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5. Casa Goyeneche (Goyeneche House)

The next destination that I want to recommend to you, has a rococo style and it is also located on the Ucayali street. It is a yellow and white building with box like balconies, although these also include glass windows. It is one of the most preserved houses in Lima due to it being restored by the Credit Bank of Peru. In its rooms you will also find some interesting colonial furniture as well as paintings by famous artists such as Teófilo Castillo. You can visit this house and the Torre Tagle house at the same time since they are right in front of each other. Benefits!

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6. Casa Osambela o Oquendo (Osambela or Oquendo House)

The last point that I want to recommend is known by two name and both are correct. Some call it Osambela house, while others call it Oquendo house. It is a house that belongs to a seafarer who lived in Lima during the colonia era. It has a strange and interesting feature that makes it different to the rest of the houses that I have recommended. You will notice that there is a small third floor which acts as a view point. Another strange detail is that it has five colonial balconies and due to its value it is considered a cultural heritage of the nation. Finally, I will tell you that its facade is a sky blue colour and white. Although this is not a museum, when it is open you can take the opportunity to go inside and explore the entrance hall and its decor. Just take into account that you cannot go to the second floor.

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And these are 5 houses that you can explore in the centre of Lima. Honestly, I do not believe that these are the only ones. We do have many more, some of which are waiting to be restored to give them back the beauty that they once had. I have always thought that the colonial and republican houses of Lima are an undeniable part of our identity as a city. This makes it important that we get to know them and above all, visit and value them since this could be the future and development of tourism in our city that we want so much.

I hope that you have liked this little description of a place you can explore in Lima! Thank you for reading these stories and references of places that transcend time and make us think about Lima as having the right to be a better place to live! Until next time, Lima-lovers! Let's make sure we continue to learn more about this beautiful city in order to appreciate it to the maximum.

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