Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas (Iglesia de las Nazarenas) is the epicenter of Lima’s Lord of Miracles, an enormous October festival during which purple-dressed revelers parade through the main streets carrying the Cristo Moreno. Visit the church independently, or as part of a half-day guided tour that stops at the city’s other sacred sanctuaries such as the Church and Sanctuary of Saint Rose of Lima and the Monastery of Santo Domingo, where two saints are laid to rest. Other tours branch out to attractions outside the historic center such as the Larco Herrera Museum, which features art and artifacts from 3,000 years of pre-Columbian history.
Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas is located in the western end of Lima’s historic district, about a 10-minute walk from Plaza Dos De Mayo. Head northeast and exit roundabout onto Jirón Moquegua, make left towards Av. Tacna. The sanctuary will be on your left. Limited parking space is available near the site. Take a cab from other parts of the city, or from Miraflores take bus 301 to the Quilca stop and walk about five minutes to the plaza.
The church is open daily, morning to evening, and is usually closed during lunchtime hours between noon and 4pm. Come in the morning to avoid crowds. Lima’s peak season runs from December to April when it’s dry and warm; the rainy season runs from May to November with high humidity and the chance of rain. Visit late October to participate in the remarkable Lord of Miracles festival.
Many of Lima’s historic district’s top attractions are located within walking distance from Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas, including the colonial Church of San Francisco. The baroque style church built in the late 1600s is the best preserved church in Lima, famous for the collection of ancient religious texts and catacombs where some 75,000 bodies lie.
