Casa O'Higgins

Casa O'Higgins is a restored colonial building located on Jirón de la Unión street, a short walk from Lima's main plaza in the heart of the city. The house contains multiple floors with exhibition spaces that visitors can explore at their own pace.

After leaving Chile in 1823, military leader Bernardo O'Higgins made this residence his home during his exile in Peru, staying here until his death in 1842. The building thus became a significant shelter for a key figure in South American independence.

The building functions as a cultural center run by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and hosts exhibitions about regional history. Today it serves as a gathering place where locals and visitors encounter works and displays about the heritage of the Lima area.

The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday and closes on Mondays, with no admission fee. Morning visits tend to be less crowded than later hours, giving you more space to view the displays.

The second floor once housed the first branch of the International Bank of Peru starting in 1897, later becoming the Astoria restaurant before its current cultural use. This unusual commercial past shows how the building's purpose has shifted dramatically over time.