Plaza San Martín

What makes it special

The monument at the centre is the work of the Spanish sculptor Mariano Benlliure and stands 16 metres high. It shows General San Martín crossing the Andes on a tall Arab horse, with an honour guard of about a dozen soldiers around it.

One relief on the pedestal shows the proclamation of independence. Its inscription gives the soldiers' words: this is the first flag blessed in America.

Below the horse sits a female figure, the allegory of Peru, with a small llama on her crown. Guides tell the story that the sculptor was asked for a flame, which is also "llama" in Spanish, and cast the animal instead.

Around the edges, pick out the Gran Hotel Bolívar of 1924, the Portales de Zela and Pumacahua arcades and the Club Nacional. White facades and finely worked balconies surround the square.

Visiting

Walk in along Jirón de la Unión, which brings you into the square beside the Gran Hotel Bolívar. Cross to the monument and start at the bronze relief on the left flank of the pedestal.

Then move round to the figure of Peru below the horse, and step back far enough to take in the whole group with San Martín above. From there, cross to the Portales de Zela and Pumacahua and walk the arcades from end to end.

Finish at the Gran Hotel Bolívar's door. Walk-in visitors can see its oval lobby and stained-glass dome from the entrance hall.

Guided or on your own

Free walking tours of the historic centre meet outside the Gran Hotel Bolívar on Jirón de la Unión, Monday to Saturday, with morning and mid-afternoon starts. They run two to three hours, in separate English and Spanish groups, and the operators' own websites list the times and take bookings at no cost.

Join one if you want the square tied to the Plaza Mayor and the streets between. For the monument and the arcades alone, the walk above covers it on your own. The hotel's concierge can also arrange a guided look at its historic interior.

Tips

The llama on the figure's crown is small, so stand close to the pedestal to spot it.

The Giacoletti building on the square is being restored for visitors. The plans give it a visitor centre on the building's history and a fourth-floor lookout over the square, so if you come after the work ends, add it to your visit.