You can walk the streets of Lima yet still have the feeling that something is missing. You can take really good pictures in each of the most picturesque colonial streets but it won´t enough. You can say you know Lima but that's not completely true. What is missing then? Find a different spot from which you can observe the "whole" city, literally. That spot is San Cristobal hill.
Divided by three districts, the Rimac, Lima and San Juan de Lurigancho, this mound of earth and stones that does not exceed 400 meters above sea level, holds a lot of stories of conquerors and conquered.
At its summit you´ll find a glorious 20-meter-cross. During the Conquest, the cross was the largest Catholic symbol that the Spanish used in order to evangelize indigenous people who worshipped pachamama, inti and the apus
The name San Cristóbal (St. Christopher) is that of a saint who supposedly protected the Spanish invaders from an indigenous rebellion. The saint, as the story relates, stirred up the waters of the Rimac river near the hill, preventing the natives from crossing the river to expel the conquistadores.
You can´t miss this tour. Remember, you can do it in a private car or in the mini-buses that leave from Plaza de Armas (these are called "urbanitos"). But you know that you´re able to do the pilgrimage to the cross walking at Easter or May 1st (Day of the Cross).
On the summit you'll find a small museum with photos and other ancient objects (S /. 1.00 admission), a small stand of drinks and snacks and parking space.
The view you´ll get of Lima and the photos you´ll capture are a must on your tour to the "under the bridge" district. Visit San Cristóbal Hill because it´s a placeOK.
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