Government Palace, Presidential palace on Plaza Mayor, Lima, Peru
The Government Palace stands on the north side of Plaza Mayor and presents a facade with arches, columns, and balconies in the style of French baroque. The complex includes several courtyards and formal rooms behind a white exterior with stone details.
Francisco Pizarro ordered a residence built on this site in 1535, which later became the official home of the viceroys. The current appearance took shape between 1926 and 1938 through a complete reconstruction directed by French and Polish architects.
The palace chapel holds the altar of the Church of Our Lady of the Forsaken, demolished behind the old building during the 1937 works. The Pizarro coat of arms carved on the main portico of Palacio Street marks the entrance used by the president.
The guard changes daily around midday in front of the main entrance and offers an opportunity for close photographs. Some interior rooms open on selected days for guided tours that require advance reservation.
The palace stands on the site of a large huaca, a revered object that held a shrine to Taulichusco, the last kuraka of the Rímac Valley. Lima was built over more than 300 such sacred sites, and this was among the most important. The sources record no archaeological excavation of the huaca beneath the foundations.
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