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Location
Catedral de Lima is named after the historic city where it was built - Lima. One of the famous tourist destinations in Peru, it is located in the downtown Lima and easily accessible. A mere 6.8 miles away from the international airport of Lima, Jorge Chavez International Airport, the cathedral can be reahged by bus and private cars. Guided tours of the Cathedral can be taken in different languages; many travel agencies also organize tours to other tourist spots in the city. There is no entry fee for the cathedral.
| Name | Catedral de Lima |
| City | Lima |
| Country | Peru |
| Built | 1535 |
| Designer | Francisco Pizzaro |
| Nearest International Airport | Jorge Chavez International Airport, Lima |
| Distance from the Airport | 6.8 miles |
History
Francisco Pizzaro, the founder of 'City of Lima' - also called the 'City of Kings', laid the foundation stone of the Catedral-de-lima in 1535, which is also the foundation year of the city. During the construction of the cathedral, however, a devastating earthquake damaged the structure and it had to be rebuilt. Even after several damages due to major and minor earthquakes and reconstruction work on the cathedral, the colonial style of architecture has been maintained. The first church was completed in 1538 and Francisco Pizzaro inaugurated it in 1540. In 1551, Archbishop Jeronimo-de- Loayza inaugurated the second cathedral. In 1622 the work on the third cathedral was finished. In 1988, UNESCO declared the historic center of Lima as a 'World Heritage Site', mainly due to the concentration of many historical monuments including the Catedral-de-Lima.
Design
The Catedral-de-Lima has a magnificent design. Its exterior architecture is reminiscent of the architectural style of the Spanish colonial era. There are three highly decorated doorways in the front facade of the church. The striking features of the Catedral-de-Lima are its wooden balconies and vaulted delicate ceiling. To the interior of this church, one can see the cross-shaped pillars. The benches in the cathedral are made of high quality wood. The choir stall is also splendidly carved and gold bread covers the Greater Altar. The candlesticks, the Italian marble floor, decorative mosaics on grave chapel create the perfect ambiance, for people looking for serenity and peace of mind. There are fourteen side chapels in the cathedral, which are also highly decorative. Adjacent to the cathedral is the Palace of Archbishop, which is also visited by many travelers.
Main Attractions
The colonial structure of the Cathedral and its exterior and interior architecture, are the main attractions for the tourists to visit the Catedral-de-Lima. The tomb of Francisco Pizzaro is placed to right side of the entrance in the beautiful mosaic chapel and also attracts many visitors. The cathedral has a small museum, which have artifacts of the colonial time and displays historical heritage. Another attraction of the Catedral-de-Lima, is the Casa del Oidor (Archbishop's Palace), which is actually one of the oldest residences of Lima and reflects the elegance of civil architecture. Beside the cathedral, the historic center of Lima has many historical monuments and is visited by the tourists when visiting the cathedral.
In the true sense, the Catedral-de-Lima delights with its unique design. One of the major tourist destinations in Lima, the cathedral impresses all its visitors with its magnificent structure and design.
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Last Updated on: August 25, 2012
