Known as the “pink city” because of the clay that colors its facades, Lampa, in Puno, is one of the most beautiful towns in the southern Peruvian Andes.
It is estimated that this city began to form around 1540, as a result of the mining carried out by the first Spaniards who arrived in the area, and was the largest province in Peru until 1901. Its temple built entirely of stone stands out, which It houses an exact replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà from the Sistine Chapel.
At 3,927 meters above sea level, Lampa is also known as ‘the city of seven wonders’ for the diversity of its tourist attractions.
The two replicas of La Piedad, by Michelangelo, stand out, one in plaster and the other in aluminium. They can be seen in the Santiago Apóstol temple. Strolling through this city is an invitation to learn about the colonial architecture in Peru, evidenced, for example, in its mansions decorated with carved ashlar. Some facades are made with stones extracted from Amantani Island. In both cases, they are painted with chocorosí, a material similar to clay that leaves pink tones.
Walking through its lonely streets, it gives the feeling of having taken a leap into the past, to that time when Lampa was an obligatory stop on the route from Arequipa or Cusco to the mining areas. The starting point is the Santiago Apóstol temple, located between Plaza Mayor and Plaza Grau.
Built between 1675 and 1685, on its altar there is an image of Jesus Christ made with cowhide. In its catacombs, according to legend, there are Inca tunnels that lead to Cusco or to the mansions of the town.