The most beautiful Spanish colonial mansions travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

Lima, capital of Peru, is a modern city which, while constantly expanding, has also managed to maintain the elegance of its Historic Center. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Center, due to the large number of artistic monuments found there, Historic Lima is an enchanting haven of a period long gone. East of the Plaza de Armas at Ucayali 363 is Palacio Torre Tagle, the most famous palace in Lima and one of the most handsome in Peru. Visit both the colonial and modern sections of this “City of Kings”. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Palace of Torre Tagle probably is the most significant mansion built at the beginning of the 11 centuty. Initially it belonged to Don Bernardine Jose of Tagle Portocarrero, fourth and last Marquess of Torre Tagle. The Peruvian state acquired it in 1918 and from 1919 it is the main headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru. It is made of artistic Limean architecture which describes its originality and also demonstrates the racially mixed contributions of the Viceroyalty of Peru, fitting them together harmoniously.

The main facade is made from stone in the first wing and plaster in the second. The style is Sevillian baroque with a strong Arabic influence. The materials used in its construction were brought from Spain, Panama and Central America. It has carved columns and finely worked balconies in dark wood, imitating colonial buildings. Apart from carved columns, the palace is distinguished by two finely worked balconies in dark wood. These balconies (or miradors) adapt the European architecture to vernacular Peruvian tradition. The interiors feature Sevillian tiles, plasterwork, wooden columns, lobed Moorish arches and soaring coffered ceilings. It is considered to have a true “Limeno” architectural originality, harmoniously combining Andalusian, Moorish, Criollo and Asian features.

One of the finest examples of colonial architecture to be found in Peru. Its facade features two superb carved wooden balconies and a Baroque stone doorway. The interior, decorated with Moorish arches, Sevillian tiles and soaring coffered ceilings, is particularly noteworthy. Today it is the seat of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The public cannot easily visit the inside, but some visits can be made by appointment only at the office of “Imagen Institucional del organismo público”.