Atractions in Trujillo

ATRACTIONS IN THE HISTORICAL CENTER

MAIN SQUARE

Designed in the midst of the conquest by Martín de Estete, Trujillo's Main Square is surrounded by the Cathedral, palaces and large old Colonial and Republican houses. In the middle of the Square, decorated with palm trees and exuberant trees, is the monument dedicated to La Libertad. This is where Peru's independence was firts proclaimed, in 1820.

THE CATHEDRAL

Built on a terrace, its construction took place between 1647 and 1666. Inside there are Baroque and Rococo style altars, paintings belonging to the famous Schools of Cusco and Quito and multi-colored sculptures. There is also the Catedralicio Museum, exhibiting Colonial works, particularly of a religious nature and gold and silver objects.

CHURCH OF EL CARMEN

Erected in the 18th century, this is one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in the City of trujillo. Prominent in this temple are the main altars and the pulpit, all in carved wood. Its Art Gallery includes nearly 150 paintings, most of them from the 17th and 18th centuries, many from the School of Quito. One painting stands out among the rest: "The Last Supper" by Otto van Veen, who taught the Flemish artist Pedro Pablo Rubens.

CHURCH OF SAN FRANCISCO

In this church, worthy of admiration are the main altar and multi-colored altarpieces, the 17th century pulpit (one of the oldest in Spanish America) and the cathedral from where Saint Solano predicted the earthquake which destroyed Trujillo in 1619. In the side aisles there are images of biblical personalities and saints. In addition, the San Juan School is still in operation in its convent until today, the alma mater of writer Abraham Valdelomar and where the poet César Vallejo was a teacher.

CHURCH OF SAN AGUSTIN

This church was built between the 16th and the 17th century. There is a Baroque style main altar and a pulpit made of gold plated carved wood, which is one of Trujillo's most valuable Colonial treasures. Inside the temple there are also painted walls depicting the apostles.

CHURCH OF LA MERCED

Built in th 17th century by Portuguese Alonso de las Nieves, its facade consists of several architectural orders which overlap. The arches -each of the four curved triangles that form the dome- represent passages of the life of Saint Peter Nolasco. In the high choir balcony there is a beautiful Rococo style organ, the only one in Trujillo.

EMANCIPATION HOUSE OR CASA DE MADALENGOITIA

Referred to as Trujillo's Civic Sanctuary, from where in the early 19th century the Marquis of Torre Tagle, Intendent of Trujillo, headed the separatist movement which resulted in the first proclamation of indepndence in 1820. It also hosted the First Constituent Congress and Government House for President José de la Riva Aguero. It displays a collection of watercolor paintings which were ordered in the 18th century by Bishop Baltazar Jaime Martínez de Compañón.

CASA GANOZA CHOPITEA

This is the most representative large old hose of the city due to its architectural and decorative qualities. Its multi-colored Baroque portal is crowned by a Rococo front and two lions, and this is why it is also known as the House of the Lions Portal. It also features Manerism style paintings on the walls, Imperial style windows, a neo-Baroque balcony and cobblestone patios.

CASA OF MARISCAL ORBEGOSO

Built between the 18th and the 19th centuries, it has kept the character of the traditional colonial house, somewhere between urban and rural, with stone floors and rooms arranged on a raised platform. The collection of furniture, paintings, silverworks and mirrors, belonging to Mariscal Luis José de orbegoso y Moncada, a hero of the indpendence war and former President of peru, are all top quality. Presently, it hosts art exhibitions on a regular basis.

CASA CALONGE OR CASA URQUIAGA

This neo-Classic style house dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The Libertador Simón Bolívar stayed here and the mahogany desk he used is still preserved. In addition, there are gold ornaments belonging to the Chimú Culture and Colonial and Republican furniture. It currently houses the Central Reserve Bank.

CASA BRACAMONTE

This is an ancestral home from the 18th century which, due to several changes undertaken, it has rooms and patios from the Colonial and Republican times. Prominent here are the large neo-Classic wooden portal and barred windows.

CASA DEL MAYORAZGO DE FACALA

This 18th century house centers around a rather large main patio, which features wooden columns, a Mudéjar corner balcony and in the inner patio, an ancient water well. There is also a highly valued stamp collection.

PALACIO ITURREGUI

Built in the 19th century, this is the best example of the city's neo-Classic civil architecture. The window bars stand out, as they are quiet representative of the architectural chracteristics of Trujillo, as well as the Italian marble statutes. It belonged to General Juan manuel Iturregui and it is currently the premises of Club Central, Trujillo's main social center.

JOSE CASSINELLI MUSEUM

Located in the basement of a shopping area, this Museum contains fine archaeological pieces of the Mochica, Chimú and Recuay Cultures. Reservations are required to visit this Museum.

JUAN ORMEA ZOOLOGY MUSEUM

This museum, a section of the national University of trujillo, exhibits a wide variety of the assorted wildlife from the coastal and Andean areas of the Department.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF TRUJILLO

Located in a Republican style old large house, this is one of Peru's most complete museums in peru. It exhibits cultural expressions of the varios pre-Hispanic civilizations of the Department, particularly ceramics, textiles and metal works, in addition to miniature models of the main pre-Hispanic ceremonial centers of the Region.

ATTRACTIONS SURROUNDING AREAS

EL BRUJO

This is located opposite the sea, in the District of Magdalena de Cao, in the Chicama Valley, 34 km north of Trujillo (approximately 1 hr and 15 min). This is one of the most important archaeological complexes in Peru's north coast. It was built through a lengthy cultural sequence which began in the pre-Ceramic period, in other words, 5,000 years ago. El Brujo consists of three large buildings: the ancient Huaca Prieta, Huaca El Brujo, belonging to the Mochica Culture, and Huaca de Cao Viejo, which features embossed figures and murals. Research continues to be conducted in the area at present, and therefore prior authority is required from the Augusto N. Wiese Foundation in Lima (see Directory of Institutions, Associations, Federations and the like) to visit it.

PAKATNAMU

On the coast of the Province of pacasmayo, 106 km north of Trujillo, there is a complex of 50 stunted pyramids towering over the entire area. They were built in two stages, by the Mochica and the Chimú Cultures. In its day, Pakatnamú was the most important religious and political center of the Jequetepeque River Valley.

LA ESMERALDA RUINS

This ruin is located in the adjacent area known as El Cortijo, 3 km from the City of Trujillo (approximately 8 min. Away). The structure comprises several overlapping terraces, which can be accessed by climbing a series of ramps.

HUACA DEL DRAGON OR HUACA DEL ARCO IRIS

This is located in the District of La Esperanza, 5 km northwest of Trujillo (approximately 15 min). The friezes of its walls are decorated with embossed multi-colored anthropomorphic figures and styled representations of the rainbow. This Chimú ceremonial center, featuring several stories which were accessible by ramps, was used for events related to religious activities.

HUACAS DEL SOL Y DE LA LUNA

These ceremonial centers ar located in the countryside of the District of Moche, 5 km south of the City of Trujillo (15 min approximately). The Huaca or Temple of the Sun is a scaled pyramid measuring approximately 43m in height which, according to tradition, was built only three days by 250,000 men, using approximately 70 million adobes. It was used for ceremonial purposes and possibly in administrative functions as well as for housing for the upper class. The Huaca or Temple of the Moon, located 500 m from the previous structure, is a monument comprised of overlapping temples built during different periods. A tomb was uncovered here, with over 40 sacrificed warriors. A top its strong adobe surface there are remains of large multi-colored murals, where the face of the Moche God, Ai-Apaek is depicted.

CHAN CHAN

In the Yunga language, jarij jarij; in English, Sun Sun. This is an archaeological complex situated in the Moche Valley, 4,5 km northwest of downtown Trujillo (approximately 10 min away). It was the religious and administrative capital of the Chimú Kingdom and the largest adobe citadel of pre-Hispanic America. Its area was about 20 km2 and it is estimated that nearly 100,000 persons lived there. People of different social classes coexisted in its urban perimeter, as evidenced by the three types of buildings: popular, intermediate and monumental, the latter represented by nine palaces where the Chimú-Capác lords lived. Its huge and strong walls were elaborately decorated with embossed geometrical figures, zoomorphic styled shapes and mythical beings. In Chan Chan there is a kind of labyrinth of stunted pyramid passages, plazas, houses, shops, stores, walls and excellent trails. The vast system of underground aqueducts and ditches, built with greater mastery to carry water along huge distances is admirable.

This archaeological complex, declared a Historical and Cultural Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO in 1986, has a modern museum, where the history of the city and of its inhabitants is explained.

HUANCHACO

At a distance of 13 km northwest of Trujillo, near the archaeological complex of Chan Chan, is the seaside resort of Huanchaco, famous for the typical little horses of totora (small reed boat) and surf boards rocking in the sea, and by its picturesque restaurants always featuring fresh fish. Worth mentioning here are the pier and the handicrafts center, and in the upper area of the place, the Baroque Colonial Church of the Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro. It also has good and varied hotels and restaurants.

PACASMAYO

This is a resort and fishermen's cov, with a peaceful and not so deep sea, located 106 km northwest of Trujillo. It has a very long pier built in the 19th century, which was used as the main point for shipping tobacco. Today, Pacasmayo features attractive architecture and dilicious food, such as the fish-based chinguirito. The most prominent beach in the area is Malecón. In this resort one can visit to the Convent of Guadalupe, in the locality of the same name, a building with a unique architecture decorated with Colonial paintings.

PUERTO MORI

Following a 35 min trip by road southwards from Trujillo, one arrives at this beach of calm waters, inhabited by seagulls and sea lions, feturing delicious typical dishes, such as cangrejo reventado and sudado de chita. The most attractive beaches are El carmelo, Playa Chica and Cerro Negro; very close to this area is the PurPur dune, one of the highest in the world, used for sand boarding.

THE PORT AND BEACHES OF CHICAMA (MALABRIGO)

Situated 94 km (1 hr and 15 min, approximately) northwest of Trujillo, these sunny and windy beaches are found, following the detour opposite km 613 of the North Panamerican Highway, in the locality of Paiján. This is a favorite area for surf lovers, since its left wave is considered the largest in the world. The port, formerly known as Malabrigo, was during the Colonial times the point where slaves brought from Africa would disembark and the proceed to work in the Peruvian Coastal Hacienda. This was also a point of arrival for the train transporting sugar cane from the sugar plantation of Casagrande. The best known beaches of the area are: La Punta, El Point and El Bruji, the latter given this name because of the many witchdoctors or chamanes who live there.

CERRO CAMPANA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

Located 15 km north of Trujillo and 995 masl, this reserve is a shelter for more than 220 species of native flora and wildlife, mainly comprised of liliaceous and cactaceous, squirrels, lizards and ground snails.

CHEPEN

Chepén is a town located in the province of the same name, 117 km north of Trujillo (approximately 2 hr). The reserved area of Algarrobal El Moro, established in 1995, comprises 32,069 ha, which protect carob forests, home to the cañanes and foxes and where boas hide as well.

SANTIAGO DE CHUCO

This is an Andean town located 148 km east of Trujillo, at 3,120 masl. Its main festival, in honor of Santiago Apostle the Eldest, Patron of the Province, is celebrated each year at the end of July, with colorful traditional dances. The famous poet César Vallejo was born here in 1892. His house has now been declared a historic monument. Another attraction of Santiago de Chuco is the National Sanctuary of Calipuy, established in 1981, with an area of 64,000 ha. It preserves a veriety of animals, such as the spectacled bear, the deer, the guanaco and the condor. In addition, the Puya of Raimondi (bromeliaceas plant of 2-5 m of lengh with yellow or blue flowers) grows there.

CASCAS

The Capital of the Province of Gran Chimú is located 103 km northeast of the City of Trujillo. This town is known for its large vineyards and for the production of high quality wines and piscos, which can be tasted.

OTUZCO

Otuzco is 72 km northeast of Trujillo, at 2,632 masl. It is home to one of the most important religious celebrations in northern Peru. Nearly 20,000 followers turn up each December, to worship the image of the Our lady of the Door, the town's patron since 1664, and also considered the Patron of Northern peru and Queen of Universal Peace. This province is also important due to its production of potatoes, corn and cereals, and for its typical dishes, such as jamón serrano con yuca (ham with cassava), cuy frito con mote (fried cuy, small type of rodent, served with boiled wheat or corn), el lechón (baked suckling), chicha de jora (a typical drink of fermented corn) and a variety of deserts.

HUAMACHUCO

This is another beautiful Andean town, with a lovely square, located 184 km east of Trujillo (approximately 6 hr) at 3,250 masl. One can visit the archaeological complexes of markahuamachuco and Wiracochapampa, the Yanazara hot springs and the Sausacocha Lake.

MOCHE

Peaceful coastal town located 8 km south of the City of trujillo. Its green countryside provides abundant and juicy fruits. It is well known for it typical food, which include cabrito (kid stew), sopa teóloga, raya sancochada (boiled stingray) and chicha de jora (a typical drink of fermented corn).

CACHICADAN

Also in the Province of santiago de chuco, 183 km east of trujillo, at 3,039 masl, this place features hot springs, which waters are considered the best in the country, rich in iron and with a temperature in excess of 60° C. Its beautiful countryside has the sweet aroma of eucalyptus and other medicinal plants. It is an ideal place for walks.

HANDICRAFTS

The skillful artisans of la Libertad produce carved-wood and carved-leather goods, engraved with pre-Inca, Colonial and republican motifs, as well as straw articles -hats, baskets, caballitos de totora (small reed boats) and woolen items -poncho, cloths -which are needed for very different purposes.