Government Palace
The changing of the guard.
Allan Grey — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Alexey Komarov — CC BY-SA 4.0 · David Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA — CC BY 2.0 · David Berkowitz from New York, NY, USA — CC BY 2.0
Lima's main square and the heart of its historic centre on UNESCO's list, dating from the day the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro founded the city on 18 January 1535, when the grid of straight streets that still stands was laid out around it. The square is framed by the capital's most important buildings: the Government Palace, seat of the president; the Municipal Palace; the Archbishop's Palace with its famous carved, enclosed wooden balconies; and the stone-fronted cathedral. In the middle is a 17th-century bronze fountain, one of the city's oldest monuments. Around midday in front of the Government Palace, the changing of the guard takes place in full dress uniform with military music, and visitors gather at the railings to watch. From the square, pedestrian streets lead to Plaza San Martín and the markets of the centre. The square is calm by day and lit at night, and the historic centre is fairly safe in busy hours, but watch your bag in crowds. Lima is a coastal city under grey cloud for most of the winter, and warm and sunny from December to April.
The changing of the guard.
Carved and enclosed.
17th century.
Historic centre of Lima, bounded by Junín, Carabaya, Huallaga and Unión streets
Around midday daily in front of the Government Palace on the Plaza Mayor, free to watch from the railings. Arrive a little early for a spot.