Founded in 1532, Piura is older than Lima, the capital of Peru, and holds the distinction of being the first city in Peru to declare independence from Spain in 1821. Located on the banks of the Piura River in the dry north, the city is compact and walkable, with colonial buildings and newer construction centred on several pleasant parks.
The heart of the centre is the Plaza de Armas. The cathedral with its gold-covered altar dominates the square. A few blocks away stands the Iglesia San Francisco — this is where Peru declared its independence, a fact commemorated every January with genuine civic enthusiasm. The Casa Museo Grau, birthplace of Admiral Miguel Grau, Peru's greatest naval hero, is worth a visit for the story of the War of the Pacific alone.
For a day trip, Catacaos, 12 kilometres south, is one of the finest artisan markets in northern Peru — gold filigree, straw hats, and excellent cheap food. The coast offers beach villages including Colán (home to the oldest church in South America), the fishing village of La Islilla for bird-watching boat trips, and the remote La Tortuga for complete seclusion.