Discover Lampa: pink adobe houses and culture

Lampa is known as the “Pink City” (“Ciudad Rosada”): historic adobe houses were painted with pink Choccorosí or pink clay. Buildings and collections also tell the story of the place. From Templo Santiago Apóstol to the Arquerías de Sillar and Biblioteca Municipal, there are several ways to explore the area’s culture.

Buildings and distinctive details

Templo Santiago Apóstol was built between 1675 and 1685. Its Capilla de la Piedad houses one of the two replicas of Michelangelo’s “La Piedad”. The aluminium-cast replica is mounted above the chapel. A notice on it states that it was made in August 1960 with the permission of the Archiprelature of the Vatican Basilica.

At the entrance to Lampa stand the Arquerías de Sillar, built in 1992: two arches made of sillar, decorated with depictions of the Ayarachis of Paratía and images of a vicuña, a condor, and the sun. The arches add a distinctive accent alongside the historic architecture of Templo Santiago Apóstol.

Museum and library

Museo Kampac displays objects from the Pukara and Colla cultures, as well as artefacts from the Inca period. The collection also includes a mummy and a kero more than half a metre high. Biblioteca Municipal de Lampa also houses one of the two authorised replicas of Michelangelo’s “La Piedad”. Its holdings include a map of Peru from 1862 and a lithograph on linen by historian and geographer Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán.

The library also displays awards for Enrique Torres Belón, along with photographs, paintings, and other materials about Víctor Humareda Gallegos, an expressionist painter born in Lampa. Access is through the Palacio Municipal from the Plaza de Armas. Inside the building, the library is behind a security barrier to the right of the main entrance. Check local access arrangements before your visit.

The location of some cultural sites can also help you find your way: Capilla de la Piedad and the Osario are 100 metres, or a five-minute walk, from the Plaza de Armas. If you plan to visit these places, you can use the plaza as a reference point when looking for a holiday rental in Lampa and choose accommodation based on its specific location.

Another glimpse: chinchillas

At Criadero de Chinchillas near Lampa, the animals are kept in two stable buildings. The buildings are divided into areas for females and males; drinking troughs and feeding stations are part of the well-maintained surroundings. The farm is considered suitable for study and family visits, where visitors can learn about chinchillas. Check current visiting arrangements with the site in advance and inspect the condition of the facility before your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ocosuyo, Ayculaca, Anapia, Isla Suasi, Tililaca, Huillanopampa, Chucuito, Tambopata.

For the main travel overview: Puno.