The life and culture of Lima is on full display at the Exposition Park, a sprawling park that was created for an international exposition but now serves a variety of purposes for the public. An open-air amphitheatre hosts live concerts throughout the year, a grand old exhibition hall holds a fine modern art gallery and the parkland’s spacious grounds provide a lovely setting for locals looking to meet up and enjoy the great outdoors.
The Exposition Park was originally created to host the Lima International Exhibition in 1872. Head to the centrepiece of this 19th-century development, the Exhibition Palace, a grand structure that is made from steel and possesses a fine façade in the neo-Renaissance style. This highly photogenic building has been home to the Museum of Art of Lima since 1957. Head on in to see a range of permanent and temporary Peruvian art exhibitions.
Explore the open amphitheatre, which has a large stand with seating. Live concerts and plays are often held here check schedules in advance for details. Elsewhere, look out for the park’s two most charming pavilions. The Byzantine Pavillion is remarkable for its elegant dome shape, while the Moorish Pavillion can boast an noteworthy winding staircase.
Exposition Park is home to plenty of wildlife, with peacocks the natural stars among the local fauna. Relax in the sun with a book, or take a family picnic on one of the park’s grassy knoll. Children will enjoy roaming the spacious grounds and playing on the equipment, while splashing in the water fountains is fun for kids of all ages.
You can reach Exposition Park by bus or taxi. The park is located to the south of the city centre, some 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) from Plaza Mayor. Food is sold from a variety of stands throughout the grounds. While you are in the area, continue on to one of the other nearby attractions: the Plaza Grau and the Juana Larco de Dammert Park are close by, and the stadium used by the Peruvian national football team is right next door.
