Colony Center
Lima is the country’s largest metropolis, the main political, economic and cultural center of Peru, and in recent years has become one of the main economic centers of Latin America. This is the most populous zone in the country. According to 2012 data, the population of the capital is approximately 9,437,493 people. Thanks to a fairly cheap workforce, good infrastructure and access to raw materials, more than 7,000 industrial enterprises, mainly textile, food, oil refining and chemical industries, are located in the city and its environs. The port of Lima, located in the suburbs of Callao, is the largest fishing port in South America and one of the largest in terms of cargo turnover.
Lima was founded by Spanish colonists in 1535. Subsequently, it became the center of the Spanish colonies in South America, and after the declaration of independence of Peru in 1821 – the capital of the Republic of Peru. The capital of Peru stands on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, but the historical center of the city is located about 15 kilometers from the ocean, on the banks of the Rimac River. Translated from Quechua, “Rimak” means “talking river,” hence, in fact, the name of the city came, which eventually transformed into a more well-known – Lima.
The historical center of the city is famous for its magnificent colonial architecture and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The buildings of the colonial period are a mixture of Spanish and Native American styles, as a result of which the so-called Creole style appeared, which became the hallmark of Lima. In addition to the magnificent buildings built under the influence of Spanish and Indian cultures, in Lima you can see many architectural structures built in the style of Mudehar, with a pronounced Moorish influence. Also, the capital of Peru boasts many interesting examples of modern architecture.
A city you can’t help but fall in love with
Cusco is one of the most beautiful cities in Peru. A city you can’t help but fall in love with. It attracts itself with its Peruvian color, restored houses in the colonial style, located at an altitude of more than 3000 meters above sea level. This place is the birthplace of the legendary Inca, whose historical periods of life you can find out by visiting the archaeological museum (Museo Inca). And taking a walking tour, you can evaluate the architecture of the city. The main square of Plaza de Armas will amaze you with its buildings: ancient churches, monuments and many other architectural beauty of Peruvians.
In Cusco, life boils day and night. Numerous restaurants where you can try fried kuya, places to relax, chic city lighting, fountains. I want to look into every street. Also, the city is famous for its safety for tourists, so you can calmly enjoy evening walks.
Not many people know that Peru is a producer and exporter of cocoa flavor beans. Therefore, the Choco Museo chocolate museum has considerable interest. There they will tell you about the chocolate production process, offer to taste tile and hot chocolate, and even organize a trip to cocoa bean plantations.
Rokoto releno
Seeing stuffed pepper, do not rush to think that this is a banal dish that can be cooked at home. Try it, suffocate with incredible bitterness and amazing taste at the same time. Rokoto is not based on Bulgarian pepper, but on local, bitter pepper. If the dish is very sharp, then the cook mistreated the rocota. Rokoto releno is prepared by carefully cleaning the inside of the fruit and brewing it in water with sugar – partially bitterness goes away. Then the peppers start with mince, always add cheese and peanuts. It is impossible to drink the dish, otherwise a fire will begin in the mouth. Sharpness is seeded with tomatoes and green salad.
Picarones
Picarones look like familiar donuts with a hole, but their taste is completely different, besides they are not sprinkled with sugar, but watered with miel de chancaca (thick citrus syrup). For picarones kneaded steep yeast dough of flour, pumpkin puree and potato. Picarones, although fried in vegetable oil, come out dry and air, like lace. Sugar is not put in the dough – in local varieties of pumpkin and potato there is enough sweetness. Anise, vanilla, cloves, bitter pepper are added to the dough – the aroma is amazing. They sell picarones at every step, this is the most popular “poor” snack in Peru.
Pachamanka
Pachamanka (translated from the Inca language – “hole in the ground”) – a solemn dish, prepared on special occasions. It is made in a hole: stones are laid down, firewood is set on fire from above and they wait for them to burn out, and the stones will rock. Then, leaves are quickly poured onto the stones, meat (pork, lamb, chicken) is placed on them. Clay pots with rice and vegetables are installed around the meat, corn cobs are laid on the sides, they are still covered with leaves and densely covered with earth. After a few hours, the grouse is dug up, laid out on plates, and a real feast begins. This is an Indian dish, there is no exact data when they began to cook it. In any case, Columbus’s friends and the great discoverer himself ate a patty from the hands of the natives.
Ceviche
In ancient times, Peruvian sailors, going to sea for several days, found an original way to solve the problem of nutrition. They potted, cleaned and cut fish from the catch, watered it with lime juice and ate. Ceviche is prepared only from fresh fish, lime is squeezed with their hands, served immediately for cooking. There are exquisite options for ceviche – with shrimp, oysters. Together with fish and seafood, onions, chili peppers, cilantro are added to the salad. Fish with lime and seasonings give juice, which in Peru is called “tiger milk” and ascribes to it the properties of aphrodisiac.
Pisco sour
In 1640, Spanish colonizers founded the city of Pisco on the site of a looted and destroyed Indian settlement. They brought vines with them, and the surviving aborigines were trained to care for it and produce strong wine. “Wine” is a very relative name, the strength of the pisco is more than 40 degrees, in addition, the original fermentation product is necessarily distilled, so it is more likely vodka. Pisco has been declared a national treasure by the Government of Peru. Having tried the pisco in its pure form, it is necessary to taste the Pisco sauer cocktail – a strong, but delicate drink with a thick air foam.
Kena is a longitudinal Indian flute created from reeds. The instrument is decorated with an intricate geometric pattern, and it costs about $30.
Samponi is the oldest Peruvian flute, which is about 10,000 years old. Sampon is made of bamboo tubes laid in two rows. The average price of an instrument is 50 bucks.
It would seem that unusual in chess? In Peru, an ancient board game played with new colors. Peruvian masters make ceramic and wooden figures in the form of conquistadors and their Inca ancestors. A set with wooden figures costs tourists about 250 rubles (25 salts). Ceramics are much cheaper – 8-15 salts.
Peru has a lot of clothes made from lamas and alpaca wool. Such things do not spell, they are extremely soft, warm and pleasant to the touch. The minimum cost of the scarf is 10 salts. 30-60 salts will have to be laid out for the sweater. You can purchase a football depicting the Peruvian flag or Machu Picchu. If you buy a T-shirt on the market, give 8-12 salts. In stores, such T-shirts are four times more expensive.
The best gift, of course, will be the Peruvian carpet – bright, hand-drawn and bearing the imprint of its culture. From the carpet you can understand which tribe created it. As motives, the Indians use everyday scenes, ornament, images of gods. Prices are quite democratic – for 30-40 salts you will buy a decent mat on the wall. The napkin-pillowcase will pull 2-10 salts from the wallet.
This is the traditional grape vodka for Peru. A strange name appeared thanks to the town in which this alcoholic drink is produced. Moreover, you can buy both a factory bottle and “self-made” products. If you want exotics, drive along the highway leading to Pisco. Alcohol dealers stand on the sidelines. By the way, in a local restaurant you are happy to mix a cult cocktail “Pisco sour”
13
languages
1551
year
55
types
3500
meters
1000
years BC
Language
Peru has three official languages: Spanish, Quechua and Aymara. And east of the Andes in the Amazonian jungle region, 13 more different languages are spoken
Education
Peru has the oldest higher education institution in Latin America. University of San Marcos was opened in 1551
Corn
In Peru, more than 55 types of corn are grown: yellow, purple, white and black. On the streets and in buses, white corn cobs with huge grains are often sold, a piece of cheese is usually added to it. By the way, Peru has many unique varieties of cheese.
Canyon
Peru has the deepest canyon in the world – Cotahuasi. It is more than 3,500 meters deep, and the Grand Canyon in the USA is only 1,600 meters deep.
First tamed animal
On the territory of modern Peru, lama was domesticated. This happened approximately 1000 years BC.