Casa de Aliaga is a historic mansion on Jirón de la Unión in central Lima, beside the Government Palace. Built for Captain Jerónimo de Aliaga in 1535, it has remained the home of his descendants for generations. A guided visit takes you through rooms with colonial and republican-period furnishings, carved woodwork and tile details. Look for the grand staircase, the ornate chapel and Jerónimo de Aliaga’s sword. The house is still a family residence, so the tour offers a close look at both Lima’s colonial architecture and a living family legacy.
A home dating to Lima’s founding
Casa de Aliaga stands on Jirón de la Unión, beside the Government Palace and close to Lima’s Main Plaza. Captain Jerónimo de Aliaga received the land in 1535, the year Lima was founded, and built his home there. The Aliaga family and its descendants have lived in the mansion ever since, across 17 generations.
That continuity gives the house a different character from a museum arranged solely around a collection. It remains a family residence, while guided visits give guests access to its historic rooms. Its location also places it among the early colonial buildings of Lima’s historic centre.
Rooms shaped across generations
The interior brings together furnishings and decoration from different periods. Colonial and republican styles appear from room to room, with carved woodwork, tile details and richly furnished salons. The house’s architectural influences include Baroque and Moorish revival elements, alongside later styles such as early Art Nouveau and Beaux-Arts. Rather than presenting one uniform period, the rooms show how the house changed as generations lived in it.
Look for the grand staircase and the ornate chapel during the tour. A sword associated with Jerónimo de Aliaga is displayed in one of the salons. These details connect the house’s decorative interiors with the family history behind them.
How to plan a visit
Access is through guided tours, which let visitors explore the historic rooms and hear about the residence and its family. You can arrange a private tour through the Casa de Aliaga website. The visit is focused on the house itself, so allow time to look closely at the different furnishings and finishes rather than treating the rooms as one continuous period.
For a quieter, more personal visit, the practical advice is to choose a weekday or go early. As Casa de Aliaga is still a family home, follow your guide’s directions as you move through the rooms. Its position beside the Government Palace makes it easy to include with a walk around the Main Plaza and Lima’s historic centre.
FAQ
Where is Casa de Aliaga?
It is at Jr. de la Unión 224 in central Lima, beside the Government Palace and near the Main Plaza.
Can you visit Casa de Aliaga?
Yes. Visits are guided, and private tours can be arranged through the house’s website.
What can you see inside Casa de Aliaga?
The rooms have colonial and republican-period furnishings, carved woodwork and tile details. The tour also includes an ornate chapel, a grand staircase and a sword associated with Jerónimo de Aliaga.
Is Casa de Aliaga still a family home?
Yes. The Aliaga family and its descendants have lived there since the house was built in 1535.
