Description of the attraction
The Palacio del Marquez de Torre Tagle, built during the colonial era, currently serves as the headquarters of the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The building is located in the historic center of Lima, two blocks east of Plaza Mayor.
The materials used in the construction of the Torre Tagle Palace were brought from Spain, Panama and other countries. The mansion was completed in 1735 and was donated by King Philip V of Spain to the merchant Jose Bernardo de Tagle Bracho, who became Marquis in 1730 for his services to the Spanish Empire.
The Peruvian government acquired this building in 1918 from the heir to Ricardo Ortiz de Zevallos and Tagle, the Marquis of Torre Tagle VI. In the middle of the 20th century, the building of the mansion was completely restored by the Spanish architect Andres Boyer within two years, and opened its doors in 1956 as the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru (since 1918 in this building) and the main office of the National Office of the State Protocol and ceremonies.
The facade of the Torre Tagle Palace is made in the Andalusian Baroque style with a porch and vaults of carved stone. The façade also features two Moorish-style balconies, reminiscent of Mudejar, in carved cedar and mahogany, emphasizing the asymmetry of the façade. The famous Peruvian architect and writer Angel Hector Velarde and Bergman said about the architectural style of this house: "Andalusian, Moorish, Creole and even Asian styles were intertwined in complete harmony with each other, giving this house an incomparable charm."
The ground floor windows with simple wrought iron railings contrast austerely with the rich decoration of the balconies. A wooden door adorned with bronze nails and two ornate knockers opens up a hallway that has four arches carved into the stone. The walls of the hall are decorated with tiles brought from Seville.
The entrance hall leads to the courtyard, spacious, light, airy, surrounded by elegant balustrades, arches and Moorish columns, conceived as the life center of the entire building. The main courtyard style is Andalusian Baroque with obvious Mudejar influences on both floors around the central courtyard. The second floor of the palace can be accessed by a spacious luxurious staircase.
At the rise of the stairs is the coat of arms of the Marquis Tore Tagle, consisting of three images - a knight, a snake and an infant. On the second floor of the mansion, there are halls tiled with elegant socket tiles, railings, cocobolo balusters and mosaic floors. The building has 14 rooms, a kitchen, a small chapel.
You can visit this building only by appointment with an official guided tour.
