Santiago de Surco is a district of Lima in Peru and one of the less touristic areas of the city although it is full of authentic local culture, beautifully preserved parklands and various commercial attractions. It has a population of over 250,000 people and is surrounded by other districts including the popular shopping areas of Monterrico and Chacarilla. Santiago de Surco is a significant area of Lima for its local atmosphere, classic culture, urban nature, academic institutes and Argentinian architecture, making it an attractive destination for visitors wanting to experience the core essence of the city.
Santiago de Surco is home to some important educational institutions, the University of Lima, Universidad Ricardo Palma, ESAN University and University of Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, as well as a number of prestigious schools. The district has some of the most award-winning green areas in Lima and visitors can enjoy the hundreds of parks, rent boats on the lake of Friendship Park or explore the historical gardens surrounding Church San Juan Grande. Shopping is another big attraction of Santiago de Surco as there are many large commercial centres or visitors can explore the squares and streets, such as Plaza Mayor, which is the main square full of cafes, restaurants and the Santiago Apostol Church.
Visitors can travel to Santiago de Surco from throughout Lima by driving down any of the main avenues that pass through the district, connecting to downtown and other popular neighbourhoods. There are also three metro stations scattered around the district, all of which are connected to the Lima Metro system. Within the district, visitors can travel by foot as there are numerous walking paths through to parks and connect to other areas of the city.
The area of Santiago de Surco was inhabited thousands of years ago, although it became a more popular tourist destination during the 16th century when wealthy visitors stayed in the area on holiday. Much of the local history ties into Church San Juan Grande as it is one of the oldest attractions, built in the 1700s by the Jesuit order, and used for various purposes over the years. Santiago de Surco officially became its own district of Lima in 1929.