Peruvian culture is primarily rooted in Amerindian traditions, mainly Inca, and Hispanic heritage. It has also been influenced by various European, African, and Asian ethnic groups.
Peruvian artistic traditions date back to the elaborate pottery, textiles, jewelry, and sculpture of
Pre-Inca cultures. The Incas maintained these crafts and made
architectural achievements including the construction of
Machu Picchu.
Baroque dominated colonial art, though modified by Native traditions. During this period, most arts focused on religious subjects; the numerous churches of the era and the paintings of the
Cuzco School are representative. Arts stagnated after independence until the emergence of
Indigenismo in the early 20th century. Since the 1950s, Peruvian art has been
eclectic and shaped by both foreign and local art currents. The Peruvian culture today is modern with global influences, always open to new trends and is constantly moving and changing in Music, Art, Literature. Peruvians are expressive, using hand gestures when talking and are tactile, expecting a kiss on the cheek for hi and bye. It is not uncommon to see couples showing affection in public places. Peruvians also have respect for elders, people of higher positions at work, skilled professionals and educated people.
Literature Peruvian literature has its roots in the oral traditions of
pre-Columbian civilizations. Spaniards introduced writing in the 16th century; colonial literary expression included
chronicles and
religious literature. After independence,
Costumbrism and
Romanticism became the most common literary genres, as exemplified in the works of
Ricardo Palma. In the early 20th century, the
Indigenismo movement produced such writers as
Ciro Alegría,
José María Arguedas, and
César Vallejo. During the second half of the century, Peruvian literature became more widely known because of authors such as
Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, a leading member of the
Latin American Boom.
María Jesús Alvarado Rivera was a Peruvian rebel feminist, educator, journalist, writer and social activist who was noted by the National Council of Women of Peru in 1969 as the "first modern champion of women's rights in Peru".
Architecture Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world, was built by the Incans in the 15th century, sometimes referred to the "Lost City of the Incans". It is theorized that it was used as a retreat by the Incan elite. Machu Picchu was surrounded by terraces for agricultural use. After the Spanish conquest, the site was lost until the 20th century. Other famous architectural sites in Peru include the fort of
Sacsayhuaman, famous for its high stone walls, and the city of
Chan-Chan, the capital of a civilization called the
Chimu culture, located on what is now the site of Trujillo. It was the largest city in Pre-Columbian South America. It is believed to have been built in the mid-800s, and held 40-60 thousand people. It is the largest adobe city in the Americas, and believed to be the second-largest in the world. Other famous examples of
Peruvian colonial architecture include the
Cathedral of Lima, the
Basilica of San Francisco in Lima, the
Cusco Cathedral, and the
Church of San Agustin.
Cuisine Peruvian cuisine shows influences from Andean, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, Arab, African, and Japanese cooking. Common dishes include
anticuchos,
ceviche and
pachamanca. Because of the variety of climates within Peru, a wide range of plants and animals are available for cooking. Peruvian cuisine has a special ingredient that gives the flavor to the majority of dishes "aji seco". If the same dish is prepared in another part of the world it might look the same, but the raw vegetables, potatoes, ingredients have a different taste in other parts of the world. Examples of these are eggs, quinoa, Lima beans, fish, lime which is more acidic, they taste totally different in other countries. Peru has more than 4,000 types of potatoes, as well as quinoa, both from the highlands. introduced to Europe by the Spaniards in 1532 after the conquest. Ancient Peruvians were harvesting potatoes between 8000 and 5000 years according to scientific research.
Traditional dishes •
Adobo de chancho: Pork, turmeric, ground garlic, vinegar, and salt. •
Aguadito de mariscos: Rice stew with vegetables with shellfish and some shrimps. •
Ají de gallina: A chicken stew made with cream, cheese, aji (hot pepper), and peanuts. •
Anticuchos: Grilled brochettes of beef heart, macerated in vinegar and aji panca (hot pepper). •
Aji de langostinos: Prawns in a bread crumb and aji amarillo (hot pepper) sauce, green pepper too. •
Arroz con pato a la Chiclayana: Tender duck meat cooked in black beer and cilantro. •
Aguadito de pollo: a traditional chicken soup in Peruvian cuisine consisting of chicken, cilantro, vegetables and spices. •
Carapulcra: Boiled dehydrated potatoes made into a stew with pork and chicken, aji panca and mirasol (hot peppers), garlic, and other spices. •
Cau-cau: Cow stomach stew with potatoes, turmeric, and parsley. Sometimes served with peas. •
Causa rellena: Mashed yellow potatoes seasoned with lime and aji (hot pepper), and filled with tuna or chicken. •
Ceviche: Raw fish filet cut into pieces and marinated in key lime juice, onions, and aji limo. •
Pachamanca: Variety of meats, potatoes, lima beans and humitas cooked in the pre-Hispanic style (on hot stones buried into the ground) and seasoned with aromatic herbs. •
Papa a la Huancaína: Yellow potatoes with a spicy, creamy sauce •
Rocoto Relleno: Rocoto (hot pepper) without veins stuffed with chopped beef, eggs, peas, carrots, cheese, milk, and potatoes.
Music dancers in
Trujillo.
Peruvian music has Andean, Spanish, and African roots. In pre-Hispanic times, musical expressions varied widely from region to region; the
quena and the
tinya were two common instruments. Spanish conquest brought the introduction of new instruments such as the guitar and the harp, as well as the development of crossbred instruments like the
charango. African contributions to Peruvian music include its rhythms and the
cajón, a percussion instrument.
Peruvian folk dances include
marinera,
tondero and
huayno. ==See also==