Explore one of Lima's finest historic landmarks at this ancient mansion, which offers visitors a view into Lima's 16th century colonial life.
Step inside a historic icon at the Aliaga Virreynal, a 16th-century mansion that houses the descendents of one of Lima's founders. The mansion was built for Don Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of Lima's first Spanish settlers in 1535.
Explore the ornate rooms and elaborately decorated hallways of a building that is as old as the city itself. Tour the extravagant rooms and admire the preserved history of Lima. Note the shifting styles of interior design and architecture which mark different architectural movements throughout the ages. The large portal doors are an entrance into the mansion's main chamber. Enjoy this peaceful space, which is a nice change from the boisterous city outside. Watch your reflection moving in the marble floor or climb the stairs to the reception hall. This waiting room houses a number of sofas, tables and plants that make for a calming atmosphere.
Catch a glimpse of colonial times in one of the mansion's bedrooms. The religiously themed painting and antique rugs speak volumes of an era gone past. Stop a while in the interior patio and enjoy the shade of a tall ficus tree. nearby, a small fountain provides a bubbling soundtrack. Walk through the central hall of the house and notice a mixture of designs. Paintings and tiling from the 16th and 17th centuries stand out as highlights.
In the building’s chapel, a large gothic doorway leads to a cross-shaped interior. This building was actually constructed on the site of the Huaca, an ancient temple that remains below the foundations.
Find Aliaga Virreynal House near Lima's central district, south of the Rimac River. Get there by bus to the nearby Jirón de la Union station, which is a few minutes' walk from the house. After visiting, stop by nearby attractions like a Merced Church, the Segura Theatre and Plaza Mayor.
