Historic Centre of Lima sees Casa de Correos reopen on 2 October
Published on 10/04/2026 at 02:31 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Historic Centre of Lima (Centro Histórico de Lima) saw the Casa de Correos y Telégrafos partially reopen on 2 October 2026 after almost a decade closed to the public. The reopening returns the central patios of the historic building to visitors while Lima prepares a future full restoration.
Casa de Correos reopens in Lima after nearly a decade
The partial reopening followed preventive maintenance carried out by Prolima, the municipal office responsible for planning, managing and recovering the historic centre. The work addressed deteriorated cornices, wall finishes, paint layers, mouldings and roof carpentry before the building received visitors again.
The restored patio includes the original sculpture of Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, together with replicas of Count Cavour and Victor Emmanuel II. The main facade was treated to reveal stone and quartz materials beneath accumulated paint and later coatings, while the National Coat of Arms and a commemorative plaque were also recovered. the 2 October reopening is part of a wider plan rather than the completion of the restoration.
The 1897 building links Lima history with the reopening
Inaugurated in 1897, the Casa de Correos y Telégrafos was for decades one of Peru's main communications centres. Postal services operated there, followed later by Lima's first telephone exchange. The complex now accommodates the General Archive of the Nation, the Postal and Philatelic Museum and the House of Peruvian Gastronomy.
The reopened patios give the current access change a direct connection with the building's architectural history. Visitors can see restored roof details, repaired ornamental elements and a facade where earlier layers have been removed, while the municipality develops the technical file for a complete intervention. The building therefore offers a limited return to public use without being presented as fully restored.
The wider historic centre occupies the Rimac valley and was founded in January 1535. Its colonial urban fabric includes the Plaza Mayor, religious complexes, public buildings and surviving domestic architecture shaped by earthquakes and later development. UNESCO describes the area as a cultural World Heritage site, inscribed in 1988 and extended in 1991. UNESCO's heritage description places the reopened complex within this larger protected setting.
Visiting Historic Centre of Lima: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The Casa de Correos y Telégrafos reopened partially on 2 October 2026 in the Historic Centre of Lima, with access to its central patios.
- The patios are open from Monday to Friday as spaces for access and contemplation while the municipality prepares the building's future full restoration.
- The complex stands in central Lima within the UNESCO-listed historic centre, whose main landmarks include the Plaza Mayor and the San Francisco convent complex.
- The visit concerns the patios and selected restored architectural details, not unrestricted access to every part of the complex or a completed restoration.
- Peru's official language is Spanish and its national currency is the sol.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Historic Centre of Lima
What has changed at Historic Centre of Lima?
The Casa de Correos y Telégrafos partially reopened on 2 October 2026 after almost a decade closed. Visitors can enter its central patios while a full restoration is prepared.
Where is Historic Centre of Lima and how do you get there?
It is in Lima's central historic district in Peru, around the Plaza Mayor and the Rimac valley. The Casa de Correos y Telégrafos is one of the public heritage buildings within that area.
What is Historic Centre of Lima?
It is the historic urban area of Lima, founded in January 1535 and recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Its protected setting contains colonial, religious and later historic architecture.
