Piura, Administrative center in northwestern Peru
Piura is a regional capital in northwestern Peru that lies along the Piura River north of the Sechura Desert and counts more than 480,000 inhabitants. The city spreads across flat terrain with broad residential neighborhoods and a central area where administrative buildings and shops gather around a large green plaza.
Francisco Pizarro founded San Miguel de Piura in July 1532, making it the first Spanish settlement in Peru and marking the beginning of the conquest. The location of the city shifted several times before it was moved to its current site along the river in the 18th century.
Residents here favor a cuisine built around seafood and goat, with dishes like seco de cabrito and ceviche served daily in the local markets. Walking the streets near the main square, you will see colonial balconies and painted facades that recall the early Spanish presence, while people spend their afternoons strolling under the laurel trees.
The main road through the region, the Pan-American Highway, runs west of the city and connects it to coastal towns and the south. An international airport sits about 10 km (6 miles) outside and offers connections to larger cities in the country.
In the 1860s, traders brought Pima cotton seeds from Arizona here, and they thrived in the dry soil. This plant has shaped the rural surroundings ever since and made the region a major supplier of high-quality textile fibers.
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