Barranco

From modern art, to classical art, to culinary art, all can be found here in Barranco, also known as Lima’s Artist’s District.  Just note that not everywhere in Barranco is artsy.    Some parts are more on the neighbourhood side, so it’s a good idea to mark a few spots down on a map to make sure you’re heading in the right direction. 

Beautiful street art is also a good cue to indicate that you’re heading in the right direction.

Central, the Michelin Star restaurant. Reservations need to be made months and months in advance. We only got to see it from the outside, just before they closed the large, foot thick cement gate topped with appetizing barbed wire.

MATE Museum highlights the works of Peruvian photographer Mario Testino. While much of his success has come from taking pictures of celebrities, the exhibits upstairs contains a photo shoot of Princess Diana and a beautiful photo arrangement of traditional costumes.

The Pedro de Osma Museum, a 100 year old mansion housing Peruvian art.

Inside, there are rooms of painting and sculptures. Don’t forget to visit the gardens out back as well as the secondary buildings for silverwork and other surprises.

Lima’s Bridge of Sighs or Puente de los Suspiros. It’s said that if you can cross the bridge while holding you’re breath, you are in love.

Right next to the Bridge is a beautiful piece of art. I had to look this one up. It’s called “The Home of Sigh”.

The Bajada de Banos walkway signals the beginning (or end depending on which way) of the street art.

There are also a few free galleries scattered around Barranco with rotating exhibits. This is one we stumbled upon called 80M2 Livia Benavides Galeria.