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The Culture in Peru

Culture in Peru includes parts and pieces of various different customs that have come together in one region to peacefully coexist. While most of the country’s traditions and cultural characteristics stem from either the American Indian or the Hispanic cultures, the diverse traditions and customs of both of the root cultures have blended to provide a unique cultural experience in the region of Peru. The unique Peru culture includes breath-taking arts, gorgeous architecture, traditional celebrations, and delectable cuisine.

Peruvian Art


Peru culture includes many unique forms of Peruvian arts. The region has been one of the main centers of American art for six hundred years, including beautiful designs in pottery and sculptures. Early age Peruvian sculptures can be found in museums throughout the world, and often can sell for millions of dollars to art enthusiasts. Sculptures and pottery aren’t the only examples of art in the culture in Peru, however, as Peruvian jewelry is also in high demand from collectors around the world. Famed painters Francisco Fierro and Francisco Lazo have made significant contributions in the realm of Peruvian art as well, but Peru culture offers other forms of art as well, including literature, music, and dance art forms.

Mario Vargas Llosa is probably the most famous modern author in Peruvian history, while most of the literature in the region is rooted in Los Commentarios Reales de los Incas, an oral-tradition based worked published in 1609. Romanticism was famous as well in the region, as found in the works of Ricardo Palma. Music in the culture in Peru has been influenced mostly by Spanish and Andean influences, while the sounds of the saxophone and the clarinet from regional ensembles have been made famous by Raul Romero’s recordings. Lastly, Peru culture is rich in the area of dance and performance arts, with dances in the region relating to social occurrences such as war, hunting, and farming.

Splendid Architecture


Tourist hotspots such as the Cathedral of Cuzco and the Church of Santa Clara of Cuzco are perhaps the most well-known architectural examples of the Early Colonial era. The Peru region is littered with architectural example from this era, but perhaps none in better condition than these two. Later in Peru culture, the Baroque period sparked new influence into the region and led to the creation of the church of the Compania, the church of St. Agustin and the church of Santa Rosa of Arequipa. Still, the war for independence led to a deadening of artistic influence in the area, until the French inspired a wave of eclectic artwork and architecture leading to the development of buildings such as the San Martin Plaza in Lima, Peru, which is a prime example of the current architectural era in terms of culture in Peru.

Celebrations


The culture in Peru is one based on the combination of local traditions and celebrations, so it is not unusual to see a celebration any given town or region that includes music, dance, food, and drinks that make up typical Peru culture. With a heavy religious influence in the area, celebrations for Christmas and other similar holidays are common throughout the Peruvian regions as well.

Peruvian Cuisine


Peru culture includes a heavy emphasis on great cuisine, including a Creole influence that is typical of Hispanic-influenced regions. The arrival of influences from the Chinese and African regions helped develop the Creole influence, but the real influence comes in the combination of European, American and Arabian culinary traditions. Rice and starch vegetables, along with fruit ingredients like pineapple and chirimoya, are common in Peruvian dishes, along with purple corn and peanuts that can typically be found in original area, non-alcoholic drinks. Ceviche is the likely the most common Peruvian dish and includes fish and shellfish typically marinated in some kind of citrus juice, usually accompanied by corn or rice.

It is no secret that culture in Peru is both unique and inspiring, with influences from throughout the world. Whether you fall in love with the beauty of the arts and architecture typical of the region, or you fancy the celebrations and world-renown cuisine, Peru is rich in culture and tradition that you are sure to love.



 
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