Historic Centre of Lima
Factors affecting the property in 2015*
- Ground transport infrastructure
- Housing
- Interpretative and visitation facilities
- Management activities
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Fires in 1998 and 2001 (issue resolved)
- Formalization of the procedures to set up a Management Coordination Unit to implement the Strategic Plan
- Revision of the Master and Strategic Plans
- New development projects within the Historic Centre including urban transportation systems (Corredor Segregado) and interventions in historical buildings
- Development of the cable car project for tourism purposes
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2015
Total amount approved : 94,500 USD
| 2013 | Update of the Restoration Project of the Nuestra Señora ... (Not approved) | 0 USD |
| 2002 | Emergency Assistance for the Historic Centre of Lima (Approved) | 48,000 USD |
| 1994 | Financial contribution to pursue a conservation policy ... (Approved) | 19,500 USD |
| 1990 | Elaboration of the extension of the nomination of San ... (Approved) | 7,000 USD |
| 1989 | Contribution to conservation works on the convent of ... (Approved) | 20,000 USD |
Missions to the property until 2015**
1994: Systematic monitoring report UNDP/UNESCO; March-April 2003: Reactive Monitoring mission ICOMOS; January 2010: WHC / ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2015
On 13 February 2015, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report with extensive annexes, a summary of which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/500/documents/.
The “Improvement of the Institutional Processes of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima in Urban Planning and Management of the Historic Centre of Lima” is under implementation with services from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to optimise the Management Unit of the Historic Centre of Lima. The Master Plan for the Historic Centre of Lima has been finalized and is pending final review and approval by the Ministry of Culture.
As to the High Capacity Segregated Corridor, projects for three stations (Colmena, Espana-Quilca, and Ramon Castilla) are in their final stages of evaluation at the Ministry of Culture.
Regarding the Cable Car Project, the State Party submitted extensive documentation in September 2014. The Cable Car Project will link Parque Malecón del Río (located in the property) with Cerro San Cristóbal (located in the buffer zone) in a single stretch approximately 1,293 metres long and with a slope of 224 metres. It will use a double-way tractor cable and 4 supporting towers. It will comprise two stations: a departure station in the Lima District and an arrival station on top of Cerro San Cristóbal. The route of the Cable Car Project crosses part of the World Heritage area and the remaining stretch of the route and the arrival station are located within the buffer zone.
The State Party reports that the Cable Car Project was first submitted in May 2012 and approved by the Ministry of Culture in April 2013 after some modifications. The criteria for approval were that the stations suitably fitted into the space where located, blending into the terraced topography of the hill or being half-buried within the current constructions of platforms and viewpoints. With regards to Tower 2, it is indicated that it is located on a talus slope formed between the Vía de Evitamiento and Jirón Marañón, where the historic Alameda de Acho or Tajamar de Acho used to be located. The landscape and gardening treatment basically consists of a tree-planting plan featuring species similar to those found at the Alameda de Acho.
The State Party stresses that the works have not begun, as they are waiting for the approval of the Concession Agreement Addendum to perform the engineering survey without which works cannot start.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2015
The efforts to continue to improve the management system and to elaborate a Master Plan for the Historical Centre of Lima in the context of a complex and very extensive urban area are much appreciated. An in-depth review of the effectiveness of these mechanisms and instruments will be required in due time. The 250-page Master Plan appears to include all relevant elements, however, the detailed review and observations from the Ministry of Culture would be required for a more in-depth technical review.
The information on the High Capacity Segregated Corridor is noted. However, although some designs and photo montages are included as annexes to the State Party report, Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) as referred to in Decision 37 COM 7B.102 have not been submitted. The scale and potential impact of the stations remain of concern.
ICOMOS undertook a technical review of the Cable Car Project and notes that it will be located in an area of a great visibility from the Historic Centre, since the hill, the Cerro San Cristóbal, dominates the city landscape with its relevant presence. Consequently, it would be necessary to take extremely careful measures so that its installation does not cause a negative impact.
The information supplied by the State Party accounts for the approval procedure for the project, which was revised in consideration with what was required by the Ministry of Culture so as to reduce its impact on the landscape and heritage.
In addition to the background information on the process, the State Party submitted the final design, the technical specifications and the precise location of the route for the Cable Car Project in relation to the inscribed property. The information does not however include the relevant Heritage and Visual Impact Assessments, as requested by Decision 37 COM 7B.102.
As a conclusion, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to comply with Decision 37 COM 7B.102 and to submit the pending information requested. It is also recommended that the State Party develop a HIA following the ICOMOS Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties (January 2011), and develop visual simulations of the entire Cable Car Project route with visual cones projected from relevant points within the Historic Centre and from the Plaza de Toros de Acho, which is very near Tower 2. Simulations should include all four supporting towers as well as the departure and arrival stations.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2015
39 COM 7B.92
Historic Centre of Lima (Peru) (C 500bis)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.102, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Appreciates the efforts made by the State Party to strengthen the management and planning mechanisms for the Historic Centre of Lima and requests the State Party to finalize the approval process of the Master Plan and submit a critical review of it by the competent authority, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed management arrangements for the property;
- Reiterates its concern regarding infrastructural interventions in the World Heritage area related to the High Capacity Segregated Corridor and also requests the State Party to undertake and submit Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) in the sections that could potentially impact the World Heritage property;
- Notes with regret that the information provided on the Cable Car Project does not include the relevant Heritage and Visual Impact Assessments requested by Decision 37 COM 7B.102 and further requests the State Party, prior to making any commitment to its implementation, to submit by 1 February 2016 a progress report including:
- a HIA following the ICOMOS Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties (January 2011),
- visual simulations of the entire Cable Car Project route with visual cones projected from relevant points within the Historic Centre and from the Plaza de Toros de Acho, which is very near Tower 2. Simulations should include all four supporting towers as well as the departure and arrival stations;
- Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7B.92
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.102, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
- Appreciates the efforts made by the State Party to strengthen the management and plannig mechanisms for the Historic Centre of Lima and requests the State Party to finalize the approval process of the Master Plan and submit a critical review of it by the competent authority, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of the proposed management arrangements for the property;
- Reiterates its concern regarding infrastructural interventions in the World Heritage area related to the High Capacity Segregated Corridor and also requests the State Party to undertake and submit Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) in the sections that could potentially impact the World Heritage property;
- Notes with regret that the information provided on the Cable Car Project does not include the relevant Heritage and Visual Impact Assessments requested by Decision 37 COM 7B.102 and further requests the State Party, prior to making any commitment to its implementation, to submit by 1 February 2016 a progress report including:
- a HIA following the ICOMOS Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties (January 2011),
- visual simulations of the entire Cable Car Project route with visual cones projected from relevant points within the Historic Centre and from the Plaza de Toros de Acho, which is very near Tower 2. Simulations should include all four supporting towers as well as the departure and arrival stations;
- Requests furthermore the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
PeruDocuments examined by the Committee
39COM (2015)Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
