San Isidro, Peru
San Isidro has become a major financial quarter in recent years, as many banks and businesses left downtown Lima to set up their headquarters in modern office blocks. It is inhabited by mostly upper middle and upper-class families.
Geography
The district has a total land area of 9.36 km. Its administrative center is located at 109 meters above sea level.
Boundaries
- North: Jesús María, Lince and La Victoria.
- East: San Borja
- South: Surquillo and Miraflores,
- West: The Pacific Ocean and Magdalena del Mar.
For more than fifty years, the border at the western area of the district has been disputed with neighboring Magdalena del Mar. A judge ordered the councils of both districts to deposit the money of the affected areas' taxpayers in the National Bank of Peru until this long-standing conflict is resolved.
Demographics
According to a 2002 estimate by the INEI, the district has 68,438 inhabitants and a population density of 6,165.6 persons/km. In 1999, there were 20,598 households in the district.
Culture
San Isidro prides itself on being home to many Peruvian artists. A few museums, as well as the Wak'a Wallamarka, a pre-Inca burying temple which dates back to the 4th century where concerts and exhibitions are held occasionally, showing the cultural heritage of the district.
Notable residents of San Isidro have include painter Fernando de Szyszlo, former presidents Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Martín Vizcarra, and other politicians such as Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, José Antonio García Belaúnde, and Francisco Tudela, among others.
Landmarks
- The second and third largest buildings in the country, the Hotel Westin Libertador and Begonias Tower respectively, are located next to each other, the latter belonging to the Grupo Brescia conglomerate. Other tall buildings, such as the T Tower, are also present in the district.
- There are 15 Catholic Churches, synagogues and temples of other religions.
- Lima's most important avenues (Javier Prado and Paseo de la República), intersect in the district.
- The district serves as the financial centre of the country with a total of 21 bank headquarters and 50 agencies.
- Monuments to Peruvian heroes and other world personalities (Gandhi, John Paul II, etc.)
- 58 embassies and consulates are located in the district, including those of Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica (honorary), Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, North Korea, Panama, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia (honorary), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay.
Gallery
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The Country Club, a 5 star hotel
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Santo Toribio Avenue
References
External links
- (in Spanish) Municipalidad de San Isidro – San Isidro District Council official website
- (in Spanish) PUCP – Centro Cultural – Cultural Center of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru