Lima: Architectural Guide

Lima has many sunny days than its inhabitants claim, with a perfect Cartesian grid in its historic center and pre-Columbian ruins scattered around the city. Its modern movement is more cheerful than the old continent, and the invasions have generated an astonishing form of urban development. This guide offers a different picture of a vibrant, cheerful, and insanely glorious city, with bright color photographs inviting visitors and residents to see it in a new light.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 408 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2023
Publisher: DOM Publishers

Lima boasts an impressive number of sunny days compared to the claims made by its inhabitants. The city's historic center, known for its iconic checkerboard layout, stands as the most perfect Cartesian grid in South America. However, it's the suburbs that claim the title of the global capital of informality. Despite the bustling commercial atmosphere, Lima society has managed to preserve its oldest traditions, making it a unique blend of modernity and heritage. While the most renowned architectural works are associated with the viceregal and republican periods, pre-Columbian ruins scattered throughout the city offer a glimpse into a past that can only be found elsewhere in Cairo. The city's modern movement exudes a cheerful spirit, reminiscent of Brazil and California, while its invasions, a heterodox and radical phenomenon, have resulted in an astonishing form of urban development.

This comprehensive guide presents over 160 works of architecture, meticulously organized into routes that cater to various modes of transportation, including boat, car, train, bus, bicycle, and foot. These routes are designed to explore the city from different perspectives, allowing visitors and residents to discover its diverse architectural styles and remnants of the pre-existing landscape. Throughout the texts, references are interspersed to shed light on the civilizing mechanisms that shaped the construction of these works, the economic activities that made them possible, and the public administration that oversaw their development.

Until now, Lima has often been portrayed in a gloomy and unattractive light. Renowned authors such as Herman Melville, César Moro, and Héctor Velarde have used descriptive language to convey their impressions of the city, often describing it as strange, sad, horrible, or gray. This guide aims to challenge those perceptions by offering a different perspective. Through vibrant color photographs, it invites visitors and residents to see Lima in a new light, revealing a vibrant, cheerful, and insanely glorious city that is waiting to be explored and appreciated.

In conclusion, Lima offers a captivating blend of history, culture, and urban development. With its sunny days, perfect grid layout, and rich heritage, the city has much to offer both locals and tourists. By exploring the architectural wonders and pre-Columbian ruins scattered throughout the city, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Lima's past and present. This guide provides a valuable resource for those seeking to discover the hidden gems of this vibrant and cheerful city.

Dimension: 245 x 133 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783869226484