The amount of churches in Lima can be overwhelming to a first-time visitor. Wherever you look, you will find beautiful religious buildings rich in both architectural detail and history, especially when walking around the city centre. To make your life easier, we have selected five churches that are well worth visiting: 1. Lima Metropolitan Cathedral (2nd picture) In the city's main square, the cathedral is not only Peru's most important catholic church but also the first one ever built, dating back to the foundation of Lima in 1535. Inside the cathedral lie the bones of the city's conquistador, Francisco Pizarro. 2. Basílica and Convent of San Francisco (1st picture). A curious fact about this church is that it was built on top of catacombs, which served as a cemetery during colonial times. A visit to its basement will surprise you with bones and skulls of around 25 thousand people. 3. Sanctuary of Saint Rose of Lima. It was erected in the exact place where Santa Rosa was born. Here, you can explore the grounds where the city's patron lived and treated the poor. 4. Basilica and Convent of San Pedro. Many consider it to be the most beautiful church in Lima. Check out its magnificent interior and see for yourself. 5. Parroquia Santa María Reina. Its unusual oval shape is the big draw here. *Bonus: Church of La Merced. Even if you decide not to enter this one, just take your time admiring the stone carvings on its beautiful facade.

The country's oldest park spans an impressive 7 hectares, and is very popular with the local populace, especially so during the summer months. Children's playgrounds and merry-go-rounds are in operation, making the park a good choice for families. Some of the highlights include the Avenue of the Classics of Moldovan Literature, containing busts of prominent Moldovan and Romanian authors and political figures, and the Alley of Friendship, where celebrity city visitors (the likes of Yuri Gagarin) planted a tree each.

Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore is an extraordinary building complex that mixes Gothic and Baroque architecture and dates back to the end of the 13th century. Every Christmas, a life-size nativity scene is set up inside the church. A museum occupies three floors above the courtyard and exhibits historic items from the monastery as well as archaeological remains.

Not far from the Church of Gesù Nuovo, Basilica di Santa Chiara is a religious complex dating from the 1300s, which includes the Church of Santa Chiara, a monastery, tombs, and a museum, that collects historical documents, sacred relics, and marble statues.