Plaza San Martin
Plaza San Martin
4
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Neighborhood: San Isidro
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
796 reviews
Excellent
280
Very good
364
Average
141
Poor
10
Terrible
1
Skeney57
Sydney, Australia24,416 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
We meet the great man again in our travels through South America! This beautiful little square is surrounded by great buildings but the centrepiece is the huge statue of the General on his steed being feted by victory maidens. One of a raft of memorials to San Martin, seen as the father of Peru's independence!
Written May 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia W
Gainesville, FL903 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
This beautiful square was inaugurated in 1921 paying respect to Jose' de San Martin, the liberator of Peru (his statue is in the middle). There are lovely gardens and beautiful buildings surrounding this park. We started our walking tour here and continued on to the Plaza de Armas.
Written January 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big dog
536 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
If you are touring Lima central then you must stop here. Large, clean square surrounded by historic imposing buildings. Large statue in the centre for selfies (exactly as Martin imagined).
Popular shopping, banking and food surround the square and in the streets.
Popular shopping, banking and food surround the square and in the streets.
Written August 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TahoeMark
Incline Village, NV914 contributions
Apr 2019
Not much to say. Ok landmark to meet people and then go somewhere else. Noisy and crowded and dirty.
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael L
Houston, TX531 contributions
Sep 2019
Just one of several huge statues around town. Well maintained and easy to see. Our group enjoyed the plaza and the history lesson.
Written October 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RGSOUNDF
Mercerville, NJ10,753 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
The 4-star rating is due to several factors. First, the plaza is a rather newer addition to the City of Kings whose history approaching a six hundred years mark; Plaza San-Martin was opened 98 years ago, in 1921, the hundred-year, centenary, anniversary of Peru's independence from Spain. Unlike other areas in the historical center of Lima, there are no colonial buildings with its carved Moorish balconies or hundreds of years old churches. Moreover, Plaza San Martin has definitely seen its better days, the best example of which is Hotel Bolivar, opened in 1924, where Hollywood celebrities used to socialize 60 or 70 years ago. As generally the historical center of Lima became less and less habitable, 95% of all city visitors would stay in Miraflores, Barranco or, to a lesser degree, in San-Isidro. And even though there are some restaurants around the plaza, the prevailing trend are the touristy chain outlets, such as Pizza Hut or KFC, for visiting which one doesn't have to travel thousands of miles. Also, the inevitable sense of decay is heightened by the charred remains of the historical four-story Giacoletti building (built in approximately 1912), across the street (Avenida Nicolás de Piérola) from Hotel Bolivar, that burned down in October 2018 and still (June 2019) remaining in the same condition.
Still, the east and north sides of Plaza San-Martin feature buildings with beautiful arcades, resembling Piazza San-Marco in Venice or place des Vosges in Paris, great for taking unhurried walks or finding shelter on bad weather days. The equestrian statue of the Argentinian General José de San Martín, known as "El Libertador" ("The Liberator") in Peru, is one of the city's historical landmarks.
Facing Hotel Bolivar, on the right, there is a pedestrian street Jiron de la Unión, the main shopping thoroughfare of downtown LIma, lined with mostly budget stores. Walking up Jiron de la Unión you will get to the main plaza of the city, Plaza de Armas (rechristened Plaza Mayor now), crossing on your way such worthy landmarks as the amazing Iglesia de La Merced, completed in the richly ornate Churrigueresque style in 1765, and Casa Courret (the elegant 1906 Art Nouveau building), both on your right.
Still, the east and north sides of Plaza San-Martin feature buildings with beautiful arcades, resembling Piazza San-Marco in Venice or place des Vosges in Paris, great for taking unhurried walks or finding shelter on bad weather days. The equestrian statue of the Argentinian General José de San Martín, known as "El Libertador" ("The Liberator") in Peru, is one of the city's historical landmarks.
Facing Hotel Bolivar, on the right, there is a pedestrian street Jiron de la Unión, the main shopping thoroughfare of downtown LIma, lined with mostly budget stores. Walking up Jiron de la Unión you will get to the main plaza of the city, Plaza de Armas (rechristened Plaza Mayor now), crossing on your way such worthy landmarks as the amazing Iglesia de La Merced, completed in the richly ornate Churrigueresque style in 1765, and Casa Courret (the elegant 1906 Art Nouveau building), both on your right.
Written June 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,855 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
Visit here and the Plaza Mayor and compare and contrast. Plaza San Martin seems to be the place where many of the historic walking tours begin. Easy to walk to the rest of the historic center from here. You may need a guide to explain the significance of this area unless you are a Latin American or Peruvian history buff.
Written June 24, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dhlc416
Toronto, Canada307 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Honoring one of the heros of Peru, this plaza is in the middle of Lima with lots of shops and things to do around it. Most notably the Gran Bolivar Hotel - just pop in a see the original registration desk and model T Ford as well as the spectacular domed foyer.
Written May 25, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elysa D
47 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
Plaza San Martin is a lovely plaza south of Plaza de Armas. We walked there from Plaza de Armas along the Jiron de la Union pedestrian walkway which is bustling and colorful. It is a fun place to people watch and stop for gelato. Plaza San Martin has some nice green spaces - a good place to stop for a picnic lunch or just sit at one of the cafes surrounding. After the incessant honking of cars at the Plaza de Armas, this spot seemed almost idyllic.
Written September 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David d
Lima, Peru36 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
One of the two most beautiful squares in Lima along with the Plaza de Armas. Rich in history, the buildings around are magnificent and the lights at night give a unique atmosphere to the place. It's worth taking a walking tour in order to know about the history of the place.
Written March 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What does the lady on the pedestal base of the statue of Jose san Martin represent?
Written January 30, 2018
She represents “liberty” to commemorate the anniversary of Peru’s independence. There is a funny story about why she has a llama (animal) on her head. It should have been a flame but the word for flame in Spanish is also llama and the sculptor chose the wrong meaning! I haven’t been able to discover what was the reaction of the people of Lima when the statue was unveiled!
Written October 7, 2018
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