National Library of Peru, National library in San Borja district, Lima, Peru
Description
The National Library of Peru is a documentation facility in San Borja holding over seven million books, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, and digital materials across multiple floors. Each section is organized to serve different collection types and research needs.
History
Founded in 1821 by José de San Martín, the institution began with his personal collection and later relocated to a modern building on Avenida Javier Prado. It grew to become the country's largest repository of documents and records.
Culture
The library holds early printed works and colonial-era documents that show how Peru documented its knowledge through different periods. Visitors can see how the nation's thinking and record-keeping evolved over time.
Practical
Visitors need a reader card to access the collections, which can be obtained on-site. It is best to arrive early in the day, as reading rooms can become crowded during peak hours.
Did you know?
During the War of the Pacific, Chilean forces removed most of the collection, reducing it from 56,000 works to just 378. This dramatic loss remains a defining moment in the institution's history.
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542 m
Monastery of San Francisco
529 m
Torre Tagle Palace
230 m
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Merced
544 m
Legislative Palace of Peru
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Archbishop's Palace of Lima
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156 m
Museo de la Inquisición y del Congreso
310 m
Cathedral of Lima
429 m
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Fountain at Plaza Mayor
543 m
Equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar
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Sagrario Metropolitano de Lima
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Casa de Pilatos
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National Afro-Peruvian Museum
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Museo del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú
311 m
Arco Chino
261 m
Casa de las Trece Monedas
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Edificio del Ministerio de Hacienda y Comercio
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Bolsa de Valores de Lima
399 m
St. James Cathedral, Moyobamba
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Museo Central - MUCEN
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Simon Bolivar
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Tomb of Francisco Pizarro
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Monastery of San Francisco Catacombs and Museum
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Gran Biblioteca Pública de Lima
40 m
Edificio de El Comercio
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