Chiclayo,
LAMBAYEQUE
Location,
extension and population
| Brief historic
overview |
Main attractions in the capital |
Main attractions of the department of Lambayeque
|
Typical dishes and beverages |
Tourist calendar  LOCATION,
EXTENSION AND POPULATION
The department of Lambayeque is located in the north western
region in Perú. With an extension of 13, 736 km²
(5,303 sq ml), it limits to the north with Piura, to the south
with La Libertad, to the east with Cajamarca, and to the west
with the Pacific Ocean. Since only a small extension of its
territory is in the Sierra, it is considered the most typically
coastal department in the country.
It has a population of almost
1'000,000 people.
The capital is Chiclayo,
which has a pleasant climate with an annual average temperature
of 22.3ºC (72.1ºF), rising up to 32ºC (89.6ºF)
during the summer. Other important cities are Ferreñafe,
Lambayeque, Motupe and Zaña.
BRIEF
HISTORIC OVERVIEW
Legend tells that in ancient times,
a great float of strange rafts arrived to the beaches of the
existing San José cove. Formed by a brilliant cortege
of foreign warriors, this float was led by a man of great
talent and courage, named Naylamp, who founded a civilization.
The descendants are the builders
of the great Chimú civilization, forged in Lambayeque
before the Inca empire. The Chimú grew to acquire a
notable state parallel to the Inca. Yet, unlike the Incas,
the Chimú moved their capital to more propitious and
strategic zones, establishing great urban centers there. They
were great farmers, textile experts but, above all, wonderful
goldsmiths, with extraordinary works in gold.
The Inca conquest of what today
is Lambayeque, lasted almost four decades. Pachacutec, Inca
Yupanqui and Huayna Cápac, successively, ruled during
the process.
Francisco Pizarro crossed the
region in his way to Cajamarca to conclude the defeat of the
Inca empire. He was amazed by the gold exposed in vases and
utensils.
During Colonial times, a rivalry
started between the people of Lambayeque and Santiago de Miraflores
de Saña. The reason of the conflict was the opulence
in which the latter lived, even provoking the greed of pirates.
An overflow in 1720, however, destroyed Saña and ended
with a flourishing city.
The people of Lambayeque followed
Juan Manuel Iturregui as their leader in the struggles for
emancipation and independence from Spain. The patriot spread
the libertarian ideas and helped enter arms for the cause.
During the War of The Pacific,
Elías Aguirre and Diego Ferré, two courageous
sons of Lambayeque, left their lives on board of the Huáscar
monitor in the Battle of Angamos against the Chileans.
MAIN
ATTRACTIONS IN THE CAPITAL
Main Square or Plaza de Armas.
Built during Colonial times, it is surrounded by the Cathedral,
Town Hall, and the former Santa María Monastery.
Lambayeque. Beautiful
city located at 11 km (6.8 ml) from Chiclayo, where the first
outcry for independence was heard. It preserves beautiful
Colonial mansions with big balconies.
Iglesia de San Pedro.
Constructed in the sixteenth century, this church is considered
a National Monument.
Bruning Museum. Founded
by pre-Inca collector Enrique Bruning, it houses a great assortment
of pre-Columbian works in gold and silver.
Eten and Pimentel, ports
with beautiful and refreshing beaches.
 Santa
Rosa. Fishing cove were, according to the legend, the
god Naylamp emerged.
Ferreñafe. A region
of vast rice plantations with Colonial style mansions and
a nice and hospitable population.
Sipán. At 35 km
(22 ml) from Chiclayo, it is worldly known for the excavations
in Huaca Rajada where the Lord of Sipán
was found. The tomb holds golden, silver and copper ornaments,
 clothing,
vases and personal objects of great value. It has a site museum.
Túcume. At
33 km (20.5 ml) from the capital, it is called the Valley
of the Pyramids. The 26 pyramidal constructions of almost
100 mt (328 ft) wide and 33 mt (108 ft) high are distributed
in an extension of 200 hectares.
OTHER
ATTRACTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAMBAYEQUE
Zaña,
located at 51 km (32 ml) from the capital, it was founded
in 1563. It was known as the most opulent city in Colonial
times, continuously sacked by pirates.
Motupe is a town of deep
religious fervor, shown in its devotion to the Fiesta de
la Cruz (Festivity of The Cross).
Monsefú. Town
of artisans and good food. Most part of the people work weaving
hats, wraps and ponchos.
Cerro Mulato en Chongayape
has the most important petroglyphs of the department. These
are drawings engraved in stone depicting scenes taken from
nature. They were done by the first settlers, ancient Peruvians
who dwelled in the area thousands of years ago.
Liches Petroglyphs. Located
in Olmos, it is a complex formed by 50 vestiges with anthropomorphic,
zoomorphic and ideographic drawings.
Tinajones Reservoir is
a fixed attraction for tourists. The landscape and fauna hold
all the appeal of the Coast.
Salas, Jayanca, and Pacora.
Towns that, according to folklore tradition, distinguish
themselves in witchcraft and sorcery.
TYPICAL
DISHES AND BEVERAGES
Lambayeque, specially Chiclayo,
is considered the land of good eating and drinking. Its cuisine
goes back to ancestral times and its secrets have been passed
from generation to generation. The local people say an attractive
table has to have two kinds of dishes: piqueos (light
snacks, strongly seasoned and hot) and nudos (the main
courses).
Among the first are, chinguiriro,
cebiches, chirimpisco, panquitas, cesinas,
and humitas, all with boiled yucca and mote.
Among the second, arroz con pato a la chiclayana, seco
de cabrito, aguaditos, espesado, pepián
de pavo and tortilla de raya.
To drink, the chicha de
jora or kollonque (an aguardiente).
TOURIST
CALENDAR
March 14. Señor
Cautivo de Monsefú. The people of Monsefú,
excellent weavers and embroiderers, dress themselves with
their best typical costumes to honor the Señor Cautivo.
March 19. Fiesta de
San José. The people of the valley of Chiclayo
coordinate liturgical acts, followed by folklore festivals
and family reunions.
April 18. Anniversary
of the founding of Chiclayo.
April 25. Señor
de la Justicia. In Ferreñafe, people celebrate
this date with great devotion. Farm, livestock and handicraft
fairs, family parties, and fireworks are part of the celebrations.
Last Week in June. Lemon
Festival. Takes place in the district of Olmos, with contests
among lemon producers, dances and popular festivals.
July 22. Divino Niño
de Milagro. A four-day celebration that takes place in
Eten, with religious and cultural activities.
Last Week in July. Monsefú
Fair. Organized by the local people, it is a beautiful
exhibit of handicrafts on rush, spinning, and silver filigree.
First Week in August. Cruz
de Chalpón. Thousands of devotees travel to Motupe
to venerate the Lord in the Cross de Chalpón.
It is a festivity in honor of the town patron with religious
activities and grass-roots festivals.
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