IN THE CITY

Churches and Temples

The Cathedral: On a corner of the Main Square (Plaza de Armas), Trujillo's Cathedral was first built in 1616 but destroyed by the earthquakes of 1619 and 1635. The temple that was built after the earthquakes has three naves and an exquisitely engraved lower choir. In its museum you can see baroque altars, and canvases and sculptures from the vice-Royalty days.

Iglesia del Carmen(Church of El Carmen) The temple was built over an artificial adobe platform of pre-Hispanic origin, and is a priceless example of Hispano-American art.

In 1759, it was seriously damaged by an earthquake; nonetheless, the main "retablo", considered a masterpiece in the style of Churriguera, was not the least bit damaged.

Other temples: Other temples to be visited are San Francisco, with its imposing altars at both side of the aisle and its collection of "retablos"; La Merced, an age-old building with its plain, perpendicular facade; Santa Clara, with its intricate golden altar; Beln, holding some beautiful paintings and Santo Domingo, with its three naves of Doric columns.

COLONIAL AND REPUBLICAN MANSIONS

The old mansions and manors ofTrujilloare famed for their sober and austere facades. Inside, their impressive patios and halls are overflowing with ornaments and fine furniture.

Trujillo'swindow railings are a truly unique feature of these houses. Like genuine iron lacework painted in black or white, they seem like radiant baskets attached to the walls of the facades.

The House of Ganoza-Chopitea, with a polychromatic baroque facade, crowned by a rococo frontispiece and two lions, is the city's most representative example of Trujillano mansion architecture.

Also worth a visit are the Houses of Mayorazgo, as old as the city itself, and holding one of Peru's greatest numismatic collections; or the house of the Marquises of Herrera y Valle Hermoso, on one of the corners of the Main Square; or the mansion of Don Luis Fernando Ganoza, of the Counts of Aranda or of Mariscal Orbegoso.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS

TheCity of Chan-Chan, the world's largest city built of adobe, is located in the Moche, or as it was originally called Chimor or Chimu, valley, 4 kilometers northwest of Trujillo. The ancient capital of the Chimu peoples, who settled in the Moche valley between the 12th and 15th centuries, sheltered up to 60 thousand inhabitants and extended over 20 square kilometers, starting from the port of Huanchaco and running up to Cerro Campana (Bell Hill). It is a bi and complex city with courtyards, homesteads, storage sites, workshops, labyrinths, walls, roads and pyramidal temples. Its magnificent walls, decorated with geometrical and animal reliefs, are its most outstanding feature.

Chan-Chan has been compared with Teotihuacan in Mexico and the ancient cities of Egypt. It is also known as "Ciudad de la Luna" (City of the Moon) or "de las Largas Murallas" ( City of the Long Walls.

TheHuacas del Sol and de la Luna(Temple of the Sun and of the Moon) about 5 kilometers south of Trujillo, stands the site of the administrative and ceremonial center of the Mochica culture, which flourished a thousand years prior to the arrival of the Spaniards.

The Huaca del Sol conserves only a third of its primal structure. In the past, it had as much as 345 meters long, 160 meters wide and 30 meters high. It was built in one day, according to legend, and is considered the largest "huaca" in Peru: 140 million adobe bricks were used to build it.

The Huaca de la Luna covers an area of approximately 210 meters, east to west and 290 meters, north to south. It has three impressive adobe platforms, joined by four courtyards that stand at different levels. One of these courtyards has a stone outcrop which was, without doubt, used for ritual purposes.

Complejo del Brujo(El Brujo Complex): This site in on the right margin of the Chicama valley, province of Ascope, and only 60 minutes from Trujillo. It is the most important site which is currently under full research. A huge pyramid; 30 meters high and over 15 centuries old is the complex's most important feature. On its walls, researchers have discovered relieves portraying the life of Mochica rulers.