Chan Chan
Huanchaco
Trujillo, in northwestern Peru, is the capital of the
city is located at the banks of the Moche River, near its mouth on the Pacific Ocean, in a valley of great cultural hegemony.The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Trujillo has its seat here.Trujillo was one of the first cities founded by Spanish conquerors in America. On December 6, 1534, Diego de Almagro founded the city under the name of "Villa Trujillo," in honour of Francisco Pizarro's birthplace, Trujillo in Extremadura, Spain. On 23 November 1537, King Charles I of Spain gave it the rank of 'city' and the coat of arms that remains a symbol for the city. It was founded among four Chimu settlements (Huanchaco, Huamán, Moche & Mampuesto), so they could ally against the Incas.
new period surge started with the rebuildings of palaces and the opening of the seminary and the school of the Jesuits.
The city played a significant role in the struggle against a complete Spanish rule. It was the first important city of Peru that proclaimed its independence of Spain on 1820, serving as temporary capital of Peru in 1825, and was the main headquarters for Simon Bolívar.
Tourism is also a major industry in Trujillo due to the city's proximity to important sites where the Moche and Chimu civilizations evolved. These civilzations are well known artisans, many artifacts having been found during archaeological digs in the city. Nearby ruins include the Chimu mud city of Chan Chan,which is the world's largest city built out of adobe Chan-chan, also known as "Ciudad de 
las Largas Murallas" (of the Long Walls), has been compared with Teotihuacan in Mexico, and the ancient cities of Egypt. Other nearby ruins are the Moche ruins of Huaca del Sol, Huaca de
Trujillo aspires to be designated a World Heritage Site, because of the proximity of both cultures and its historical colonial city centre whose old houses attract many visitors. The old mansions and manors of Trujillo are distinguished for their solemn and austere facades. Inside, their impressive halls are overflowing with ornaments.
Trujillo's window railings are a truly unique feature of the mansions. The House of Ganoza-Chopitea or "casa Ganoza" with a polychromatic front in the
baroque style, crowned by a rococo frontispiece and two lions, is the city's most representative example of Trujillano mansion architecture. Another one is the House of Mayorazgo, as old as the city itself, and holding one of Peru's greatest numismatic collections. In addition, the revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar lived in a house on the Plaza de Armas.
The world-famous beach Huanchaco, a surfing destination, is located just north of Trujillo.
Trujillo's restaurants offer a wide variety of local food such as shambar, mostly served on Mondays, ceviche, sopa teologa and cabrito.
September 2009
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