Government Palace of Peru

What makes it special

The front you see was inaugurated in 1938, rebuilt after a fire in 1921 had reduced much of the old palace to ash. Its style is neoclassical in the French manner, designed by the French architect Claude Sahut and the Polish architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski, and it spans one whole side of the Plaza Mayor.

Behind the railings lies the Patio de Honor, the courtyard where the guard changes. The music is military, and the band's repertoire has included El Cóndor Pasa played as a march.

The Húsares de Junín are the palace's traditional honour guard, but the armed services take turns at the ceremony. Air Force personnel carried it out in 2026, and in 2024 a Navy band played before Army guards took the salute.

Visiting

On the square in front of the palace railings, the crowd gathers for the guard change. Police keep the crowd back from the building, and the ironwork and fences in front of it cut the view, so look for a gap in the bars with a line of sight into the courtyard.

Musicians line up in front of the gates to play, and the guards march in the courtyard behind them. The palace grounds are fenced off from the public, so the square is as close as you get outside a guided visit.

Guided or on your own

The interior can be seen only on a guided visit, free, on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with the first group at nine. Register by telephone, Monday to Thursday mornings, and you are told afterwards whether you have a place.

The visit takes about an hour and includes the Salón Túpac Amaru II.