Breña – Streets and squares in the neighborhood of the locals

In Lima there are many, many places. Peruvians like to make their city with open spaces, and use them too: to walk, sit and talk. Breña has several of them, including the recently redesigned Plaza de la Bandera, Plaza Bolognesi and Plaza de Breña. But that’s not all, Breña is known for its small markets and stores. It is a busy district and a commercial district. This is mainly because Breña is a relatively young district, it was founded in 1949. Therefore, the district is opposed to its neighbor, the Cercado de Lima, in which the old town is located. Peru’s economic growth did Breña well, but this golden age is over. However, Breña has become a popular residential area. Here you will experience a Lima, as the locals know, far from the tourist roads.

On the one hand, you can go shopping in Breña, the streets where there are many shops. However, the neighborhood also has some architectural peculiarities, such as the Catholic Church of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados. Like many churches in Lima, this one also had some previous buildings, the current building dates from 1940. Although the building looks static and militarily from the outside, it’s worth taking a look inside and enjoying the great space in the game of lights in the stained glass. On the other hand, the archaeological site on the western edge of Breña goes much farther in the past. This huaca with its five truncated stumps dates from the time of Ichma and recalls the past of Lima before the arrival of the Spaniards. The area occupies just under 17 hectares, right in the middle of the city. La Huaca is the perfect place if you are interested in digging and want to escape from the noise of the city for a few hours.

Although Breña is not one of Lima’s tourist strongholds, you can eat quite well there. Al Son Marino is one of the most popular restaurants in the area. Otherwise, it means try: restaurants with Peruvian cuisine can be found in many places in Breña.