Trujillo, Peru

Plaza de Armas, Trujillo, Peru
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:N_Truillo09.jpg
Author: Johan Pihlemark


Trujillo is a city in northwestern Peu. It is on the banks of the Moche River, near the Pacific coast. The urban area covers 1,768 sq km (682.9 sq mi) and has a population of 812,000 people, making Trujillo the third biggest city in Peru, within a metropolitan area that incudes nine municipalities.

Trujillo was founded by Spanish conquistador Diego de Almagro on 6 December, 1534, making it one of the first cities in the Americas to be founded by Europeans. Almagro named the city Nova Castile Trujillo in honor of his companion (but later, his rival) Francisco Pizarro. It was established at a site occupied by four Chimù settlements. An alternative founding date is 5 March, 1535. That was when Trujillo was established within the Viceroyalty of Peru by Pizarro.

The Diocese of Trujillo was created in 1577, and in 1616 work commenced on the construction of Trujillo Cathedral. Due to its location just 4 km from the coast, Trujillo was vulnerable to pirate attacks. To defend the city from such raids, walls were built to encircle it.

Huaca de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon), with Cerro Blanco in the background
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Huaca_de_la_Luna_jt01.jpg
Author: Joel Takv


In the 19th century, Trujillo was at the forefront in the nationalist fight for independence. The city under Mayor José Bernardo de Tagle, declared its independence from Sapin in 1820, leading the way as the first Peruvian city to make such a declaration. It became the first capital of the Republic of Peru in 1823.

Today Trujillo is an increasingly popular tourist destination. Visitors come not only for its recent history, but also to visit site of ancient civilizations, namely the Moche and Chimú cultures. Among the noted ruins in the vicinity of Trujillo includes Chan Chan, the Chibu adobe city, and the Moche pyramids of the sun and of the Moon, comparable in scale to those of Teotihuacan in Mexico. Chan Chan was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1986.

Visiting Trujillo

Capitán FAP Carlos Martínez de Pinillos International Airport (TJI) in Trujillo receives flights by LAN Perú and TACA Perú from Lima. There are also bus services to Trujillo from Lima, Chimbote and other cities in Peru and neighboring Ecuador.

Places of Interest in Trujillo

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