Paseo Bolognesi

Location:
Tacna, Peru

City Walk

By Lorraine Caputo

The commercial artery of Tacna is Avenida Bolognesi. In the center of the broad boulevard is a several-kilometer-long park, the Paseo Bolognesi. A stroll down the palm-lined Paseo is to walk through Tacna’s history. At the east end of the avenue, is the Universidad Nacional. Just west, towards Calle Amazonas, are several Republican-era mansions built after the August 1868 earthquake. At Amazonas, make a detour one block north to Iglesia Espíritu Santo. Designed by Juan Batenero, this unusual church has a trefoil-shaped ceiling and floor plan. Returning to Bolognesi, about midways, at Pallardelli, is the market district, with the mercado central and mercado artesanía. The median park begins to widen in front of the Hotel Gran Tacna, one of the city’s premier hotels. At Avenida Grau is an old steam locomotive. Continuing past the railroad tracks is a park with statues to the various heroes of Tacna’s independence movements. At the very end of the Paseo, at the roundabout, is one of the newest architectural features of Tacna, reflecting a new member to its ethnic diversity: Mesquita Bab-Ul-Islam, the Pakastani community’s mosque.

Travel Tips: Iglesia Espíritu Santo is open during the day. Mesquita Bab-Ul-Islam is open to visitors, usually about 4 p.m. (or ring the bell). Also, city tours include it on their itinerary.

An unsual feature of the Paseo are the irrigation gates one occasionally sees. This controls the flow of the Río Caplina, which runs right under the boulevard.

Price Description: Free.

Relative price: Free

Open Hours from:Dawn

Open Hours to:Dusk

Travel Skills: None

Near Hotel Gran Tacna is the Museo Postal y Filtélico (Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Bolognesi 361. Entry: free).

Currencies accepted
Nuevo Sol