Officially known as the Master Priest Matty Cemetery, Presbitero Maestro is the oldest cemetery in Lima. Located in the Barrios Altos just east of the city center, the site’s wealth of history, culture and art on display helped earn the historic city center of Lima be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Opened in 1808, the cemetery features ornate tombs, gothic crypts, pavilions and even a large mausoleum which is home to Peru’s most renowned historical figure, Miguel Grau. Other notables include Francisco Bolognesi, Alfonso Ugarte, Augusto Leguia, Ramon Castilla, Ricardo Palma, Jose Carlos Mariategui and more.

Resting below the pavilion above is the Matias Maestro, the Spanish-born artist who designed the cemetery.

Students of Peruvian history will recognize figures but also the prominence of the specific family surnames of the aristocracy such as Miro Quesada, Roca, Osma and many more. Above is the entrance to Antonio Miro Quesada de la Guerra, a former congressional president and editor of Peru’s oldest newspaper, El Comercio. This site faces the entrance to Grau’s mausoleum.

The 20-hectare (50 acres) offers a lot to explore. Photography aficionados may be able to spend a full day there.

The mausoleum holding Grau’s remains was closed but I managed to take this shot of the tomb before being shooed out.

Ricardo Palma, author of Peruvian Traditions, faces the master priest’s pavilion with Ancash Street in the background.

Many of the shots have Cerro San Cristobal in the background.

Ramon Castilla is Peru’s longest-serving former President at an astounding 13 years (astounding given many presidents didn’t last two years in the tumultuous 19th century).

Presbitero Maestro is building a buzz in Lima for its night tours. The manager told me that it’s hard to get people to come during the day, but the night tours are doing well.

I think you can see more detail during the day, certainly some of the historic names, but I plan to do a night tour. Check back soon for more pics.

Location and info

Cementerio Presbitero Matias Maestro
Jr. Ancash 1611, Cercado
Phone: (01) 352 6208
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: 10 soles
Presbitero Maestro on Facebook

Presbitero Maestro is located in the Barrios Altos neighborhood east of the Huanuco bridge. There is a Metro station named for the cemetery which overlooks the west-side walls. The cemetery entrance is just around the corner from the station entrance.

Night Tours
Hours: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dates: Fridays and Saturdays of the second and last weekends of each month
Admisson: 20 soles

Warning: Barrios Altos is one of Lima’s most notorious neighborhoods for crime. Be careful and, even though it looks close to the historic city center, trying to walk is not worth the risk. The real danger point I don’t go past on foot is the Huanuco Bridge.

Pictures and video

See two more videos on the Lima City of Kings YouTube Channel:

• Crypt of Heroes mausoleum
• Goyeneche tomb

Click the pictures below to enlarge. Or for high-res slideshow viewing, see the Presbitero Maestro album on the Lima City of Kings Facebook page.