10 Best Sights in Lima, Peru

Built in 1871 as the Palacio de la Exposición, this mammoth neoclassical structure was designed by the Italian architect Antonio Leonardi, with metal columns from the workshop of Gustav Eiffel (who later built the famous Parisian tower). The ground floor holds temporary exhibitions by both national and international artists, and the second floor houses a permanent exhibition that spans Peru's past, with everything from pre-Columbian artifacts to colonial-era art to republican-era paintings and drawings that provide a glimpse into Peruvian life in the 19th and early-20th centuries. One of the museum's treasures is the collection of quipus, or "talking knots": collars of strings tied with an array of knots, each with a distinct meaning (the closest thing the Incas had to writing). Leave time to sip an espresso in the café near the entrance.

Lucía de la Puente represents some of the best artists in Peru, as well as other South American nations, at Lima's premier gallery, which occupies a historic house on Barranco's most charming street. Some of de la Puente's private collection is on display next door, in the public areas of Hotel B.

The large gallery in the lower floor of the Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano primarily exhibits the work of contemporary Peruvian artists, with a new show every month. Each year in July or August, however, it exhibits a collection of traditional Andean folk art, which is well worth seeing.

Although relatively small, this private museum of pre-Columbian artifacts holds some of the city's best textiles, in addition to well-preserved ceramics and other handiwork. The museum was founded by Japanese businessman and collector Yoshitaro Amano in 1964 and expanded and remodeled by his offspring in 2015. The chronological exhibition charts Peru's artistic development from 800 BC to the 15th century across four halls packed with well-preserved artifacts from pre-Inca cultures, including the Paracas, Nazca, Moche, and Chancay. The impressive collection of weavings contains some that are almost 2,000 years old; miraculously, many have retained their vivid colors and (sometimes comic) imagery. Displays are in English and Spanish; you can also call ahead to reserve an English-speaking guide.

Lima's newest art museum is run by a privately funded institute on land donated by the Municipality of Barranco. Its minimalistic, rectangular exhibition spaces house a permanent collection by Latin American and European artists that dates from the past 60 years, as well as temporary shows that change every few months. The main hall overlooks a metal sculpture by Veronica Wiesse perched over a reflection pond; beyond it lies a small park that's used for fairs and other events.

Italian art in Peru? This small museum is one of the city's most delightful. Most of the art is about a century old, so it captures the exact moment when impressionism was melting into modernism, and the building itself is a work of art. Don't overlook the magnificent iron door by Alessandro Mazzucotelli.

Occupying a refurbished, turn-of-the-century house near the Museo Pedro de Osma, this small museum exhibits photos by renowned Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino. It has rooms dedicated to the likes of Kate Moss, Gisele Bündchen, and Madonna, as well as a few photos of indigenous Peruvians in traditional Andean dress. A separate building holds a sampling from the last photo shoot of Princess Diana before her untimely death. The gift shop has some great postcards, and the museum's café is a pleasant spot for a light meal or drink.

On the southern end of the Palacio Municipal de Miraflores (town hall), around the corner from Parque Miraflores, is the Sala Luis Miró Quesada Garland: one of the district's most popular galleries. It exhibits the work of Peruvian painters, sculptors, and photographers, with a new artist exhibiting each month.