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Lima Classics: free self-guided audio tour of Lima
Lima Classics is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Lima, Peru: 5 stops in about 1 h 40. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h 40, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | about 1.1 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Plaza Mayor of Lima |
| Finish | San Francisco Monastery |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
Baroque and convents of the historic center
The stops, in order
- Plaza Mayor of LimaWelcome to Lima's Plaza Mayor, also known as Plaza de Armas, founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and the beating heart of the 'City of Kings'. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this monumental square is surrounded by the most iconic buildings of Peruvian power: the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the City Hall, and the Archbishop's Palace. At its center stands a bronze fountain dating from 1651, one of the rare original elements that survived the…
- Lima CathedralHere stands Lima's Metropolitan Cathedral, whose construction began in 1535, the very day the city was founded, at the initiative of Francisco Pizarro himself. Several times destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt, it now blends Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Its cream-colored façades rise opposite the Plaza Mayor and frame three finely carved portals.
- Government PalaceWelcome to the Government Palace, also known as Casa de Pizarro, the official seat of the Presidency of the Republic of Peru. Built where Pizarro had established his own residence in 1535, the current building dates from 1938 and blends a neo-Plateresque style with eclectic influences. Its monumental façade opens onto the Plaza Mayor through imposing wrought-iron gates.
- Santo Domingo ConventHere stands the Convent of Santo Domingo, one of Lima's oldest religious institutions, founded in 1535 by the Dominican Order. It is here that Saint Rose of Lima—first canonized saint of the Americas and patron of South America—lived, as well as Saint Martin de Porres, patron of social justice, whose relics attract many pilgrims. The University of San Marcos, the first university of the New World, founded in 1551, was born within these walls.
- San Francisco MonasteryWelcome to the Convent of San Francisco, a masterpiece of Lima's Baroque architecture, built between 1657 and 1674. Its yellow façade and two white towers are iconic of the historic center. Discover the magnificent cloister lined with Sevillian azulejos, the chapter hall with its carved Mudejar wooden ceilings, and the ancient library—one of the finest in South America—housing 25,000 works, some dating back to the 15th century.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Lima, then Lima Classics.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Plaza Mayor of Lima and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Lima
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Lima Classics tour in Lima free?
- Yes. It is one of 3 free self-guided audio tours of Lima in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Lima Classics tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Lima Classics tour start and finish?
- It starts at Plaza Mayor of Lima and finishes at San Francisco Monastery.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.