Trujillo and Chiclayo Peru

The cities of Trujillo and Chiclayo in the North of Peru pique archaeological interests, in fascinating colonial cities with a pleasant climate.

Trujillo was named after Pizzaro's home in Spain by it's founded in 1534 by Don Diego del Almagro. Generally sunny with pleasant temperatures, the fertile valley contributed to quick growth during the colonial times as evident in the mansions, churches and plazas. The residents practice a lively dance, "The Marinera", which was founded here. Artisans here carve wood, mold mud and clay, and printed and engrave gourds. Also renown artisan products are Trujillian wire windows, gold and silver work, engravings of representative customs, totora rafts, and straw hats.

At over 7 square miles the mud citadel of Chan Chan is the largest pre-Colombian structure of it's kind. The entire complex is built from clay, mud, wood and stones. The kingdom of Chimu organized the complex into multiple cities within a city, each one having its own entrance. Each of these cities is named after the archaeologists who studied them (Rivero, Tschudi, Bandelier, Uhle, Tello).

Once inside, visitors are treated to marvelous rectangular architecture of inner patios, homes, administrative buildings, temples and storehouses. Walls are decorated with friezes of abstracts and animal figures. The king's burial chamber is the most important structure in the complex. In its heyday, all roads led to Chan Chan as it is supposed to be the urban center of a vast regional state that extended from the Ecuadorian coast as far south as Lima.

Chiclayo first initiated by the Chi culture, then conquered by the Incans only to be eventually conquered by the Spaniards. Colonial mansions, churches and museums are attractions in the area. Less than 7 miles away lies the charming city of Lambayeque where colonial mansions with iron balconies have been preserved and the Bruning museum resides. Cerro Mulato en Chongayape has the most important petroglyphs of the area with scenes of nature but also nearby are the Liches Petroglyphs located in Olmos with conceptual drawings of animals and the geographic area.