Cathedral of Lima

One of Plaza Mayor’s grandest and most visited structures is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Lima. This was the site of a grand palace owned by the famous Incan prince Sinchi Puma. But this changed as the Spanish presence increased in the area. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro, famed to be the founding father of Lima, is said to have laid the foundation stone of the Cathedral of Lima. This makes it one of the oldest buildings in the city of Lima.

The church was built almost entirely out of wood in its early days. Gradually, over the next century, its design grew more and more elaborate. The church became a Cathedral, complete with bell towers. However, a series of earthquakes destroyed large parts of the Cathedral of Lima. At every stage it was rebuilt incorporating architectural styles of that time. As a result the Cathedral of Lima today is a mishmash of various neoclassical, baroque, and gothic styles. This makes it especially fascinating to visitors today.
Today the pale-yellow façade of the Cathedral has 8 entrances. The Cathedral also has fourteen mini chapels. The main building of the cathedral houses the tomb of the founder, Francisco Pizzaro. Try to explore the Cathedral of Lima with a knowledgeable guide as it can help uncover the various layers of history that lay buried here, you will not be disappointed.