Plaza Bolívar, Public square in Barrios Altos district, Lima, Peru
Plaza Bolívar extends across the second block of Abancay Avenue and is defined by significant government buildings nearby. The space sits in close proximity to the Congress of the Republic and the Museum of Inquisition, which frame the public area.
The plaza was originally known as the Square of Three Cardinal Virtues in the 16th century and underwent major transformation in 1949. This redesign coincided with the expansion of Abancay Avenue and shaped the space as it appears today.
The square is named after Simón Bolívar and features an equestrian statue of the general that dominates the space. The surrounding buildings reflect Peru's political past and shape how locals and visitors experience this part of the city.
The square has been fenced off and closed to free public access since the 1980s, when security measures were taken to protect the Congress building. It sits at the second block of Abancay Avenue, three blocks east of the Plaza Mayor, and is best viewed from the surrounding streets.
A crypt for Peru's Unknown Soldier was inaugurated here on 13 May 2002; the soldier was a sixteen-year-old Peruvian combatant killed during the War of the Pacific. The memorial stands within the square, which has been fenced off since the 1980s.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,808 contributors worldwide.