Juliaca

Juliaca can be explored through a range of cultural themes: the long construction history of the Templo Matriz de Santa Catalina, the eventful history of the Templo de la Merced, a municipal museum, and exhibits of handicrafts. There is also an annual religious celebration featuring folk dances. You can plan your trip around whether you are especially interested in churches and history, exhibitions, or vibrant traditions.

Church History in Juliaca

Construction of the Templo Matriz de Santa Catalina began in 1649 at the Jesuits’ behest and was completed in 1774, 125 years later. Its long construction period thus connects two dates far apart in time in a single building history. The church was declared a Historical Monument by Law No. 10028 of November 24, 1944, and by Supreme Resolution No. 2900-72-ED of December 28, 1972. Those interested in historic churches will find a specific point of reference here for Juliaca’s history.

The location can also be pinpointed: from the Plaza de Armas in Juliaca, a 50-metre walk leads to the Templo Matriz de Santa Catalina. The route is said to take about five minutes and follows a paved road. If the church is among your planned cultural interests, you can include the Plaza de Armas as the starting point for this route when planning your visit.

The Templo de la Merced is also known as the Templo de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. It was built in the late 19th century and inaugurated in 1889. It was inaugurated again in 1959, and its interior underwent extensive renovation in 1995. In contrast to Santa Catalina, several different dates take centre stage here: its construction, the inaugurations, and the later renovation of the interior. The two churches therefore offer different historical points of interest, and their histories need not be confused.

The Virgen de las Mercedes Celebration

The Virgen de las Mercedes celebration is held annually at the Templo de la Merced on September 24. During Mass, the procession, and the veneration in front of the church entrance, up to 40 folk groups dance. The named groups include Morenada, Tinkus, Caporales, Tobas, and Oros. The celebration thus brings together religious ceremonies and several named dance forms. If you want to experience this tradition, September 24 is the key date to consider when planning your trip. The figure of up to 40 groups describes the potential scale of the participating folk groups; the five named dance forms also give a concrete impression of the variety of the celebration’s programme.

Museum and Handicrafts

Since 2001, the Museo Municipal de la Ciudad de Juliaca has been housed in the Casa de la Cultura and has had a permanent exhibition space. This makes the municipal museum a cultural attraction in its own right alongside the churches. If you would like to explore Juliaca’s history and culture beyond its religious buildings, you can include the museum in your travel plans.

On the first floor of the Galería Artesanal las Calceteras, exhibits include textiles made from sheep’s wool and alpaca fibre, pottery, hats, and woven flat textiles. The selection therefore includes textile works made from two specifically named materials, as well as other areas of handicraft. Depending on your interests, you can make a distinction: the museum offers a permanent exhibition space, while the gallery focuses on specific textile and handicraft works.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Juliaca, you can first consider which of these cultural themes you want to shape your trip. The Plaza de Armas is a named starting point for the walk to Santa Catalina; for the Virgen de las Mercedes celebration, the annual date of September 24 is key. The museum and handicrafts add further cultural themes to your options. These different interests can help guide your travel planning without requiring you to centre every visit around the same theme.

Discover More Places

Also discover Ocosuyo, Puerto Leguía, Capachica, Chucuito, Anapia, Mañazo, Tililaca and Ayculaca.

For the broader travel overview: Puno.