Adjoining the Cathedral of Lima on the eastern side of the Plaza de Armas, the Archbishop's Palace of Lima (Palacio Arzobispal) is the official residence of the Archbishop of Lima and the administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima. The location has housed the Archbishop of Lima since the founding of the city in 1535 by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, however the current building only dates back to 1924.
Located in such close proximity to the Baroque splendour of the Cathedral of Lima, the square's oldest edifice, the Archbishop's Palace reflects the former's ornate facade despite its relative newness. The palace is considered an excellent example of the early 20th century Neo-colonial architecture of Lima, which can also be seen in the other stately buildings around the main square. The Baroque facade is renowned for its intricate cedar wood enclosed balconies that surround the entrance - a feature of historic buildings in Lima. A courtyard with orange trees connects the palace to the cathedral.
Open to the public as a museum since 2009, the interior of the palace boasts French stained glass on the ceiling for illumination and decoration, and ornate marble staircases with wooded handrails leading to the second floor. The Archbishop's Palace has 30 galleries displaying art from the 16th to 19th centuries. The first floor houses temporary exhibitions of religious artworks, liturgical ornaments and pieces of cultural significance. The second floor showcases the preserved decor from various eras as well as items dating back to the founding of the city, and include antique furniture and furnishings, paintings and other objets d'art from the original palace, as well as being the administrative base of the Archbishop. On the third floor you'll find the Cathedral of Lima's archives and a designated research and restoration area.
Admission to the Archbishop's Palace of Lima is 20 soles for adults and free for children. To visit, the closest metro station is Desamperados. From here, to get to Plaza de Armas walk for five minutes down Jiron Carabaya and into Jiron Huallaga.
