Justice Palace of Lima, Supreme Court building in downtown Lima, Peru.
The Justice Palace of Lima is the seat of the Supreme Court in the center of the Peruvian capital and occupies an entire city block along Paseo de los Héroes Navales. The facade displays tall columns, reliefs, and cornices that extend over multiple floors and give the building a solemn appearance.
Construction started during the second government of Augusto B. Leguía (1919–1930) as part of his modernization of the capital, and the building was inaugurated on 5 December 1939 by President Óscar R. Benavides, a year after the current Government Palace. The Polish architect Bruno Paprowsky based the plans on the Law Courts of Brussels by Joseph Poelaert, but the original dome and tower were dropped after the 1930 coup that overthrew Leguía. A bronze medal minted in 1939 shows the palace as first planned.
The name refers to the supreme judicial authority of the country, while the building now serves as the workplace for the highest judges. Visitors can view the European-inspired main facade from Paseo de los Héroes Navales, where lawyers and parties gather before court sessions.
Entry is restricted to people with legal business, as the building operates as an active courthouse. Visitors without appointments can explore the exterior view and the surrounding area, which works well for a short walking tour.
The two white marble lions flanking the main staircase contrast with the grey granite of the rest of the building. Popular tradition holds that they came from a group of more than twelve stone felines that adorned the Chorrillos seaside resort; after the War of the Pacific only a few remained, and these were moved to the Paseo Colón before ending up here.
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