Torre Tagle Palace, Lima

A couple of blocks away from the Government Palace stands the Torre Tagle Palace, in all its magnificence. It is a Spanish Baroque palace and takes its name from Jose Tagle who commissioned the building in 1715 to use as his home. Today, the palace serves as a working space for the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This mansion is a great example of colonial architecture in Lima and bears evidence of the graceful buildings, which were built in the 18th century. Two beautiful wooden balconies define the main entrance, which is carved out of stone. It almost seems as though the European architecture has been modified to fit into the Peruvian mould. The inside court is built in a typical Seville style patio complete with galleries and balconies.

Visitors are not allowed to enter the interiors of the palace. But if one is keen to go inside, then a prior appointment is required for permission to be granted. Or else you need to be a part of a city tour offered by some specific tour operators of Lima. The Spanish influence is so strong that the environs really make you travel backwards in history, i.e., to the time when Peru was a part of the Spanish empire.