Antioquia: The town that seems to be taken from a fairy tale

Antioquia: The town that seems to be taken from a fairy tale

Antioquia, also known as the Holy Spirit town, is only 70 km from Lima. Walking through its streets is like entering a story, as they are decorated with angels, flowers and animals, as if it were 'the largest altarpiece in the world'.

From here, hikers can follow part of the Inca Trail or Qhapaq Ñan, which linked the main Inca administrative centers along the Lurín River.

This magical city is also blessed by a fertile valley where apples and quinces are harvested, which are turned into delicious jams and nectars.

Where is Antioch?

Antioquía is located 76 kilometers from the center of Lima, in the province of Huarochirí and about 1,500 meters above sea level. This district was founded in 1935 and its capital is the town of Espiritu Santo.

The Land of Colors

The history of Antioquia is an example of creativity to boost the economic growth of the town. In the 1990s, the Center for Research, Education and Development (CIED) was working to promote agricultural development in the area, when it realized that they needed to do something bigger.

Therefore, in 2003, they set the goal of attracting more visitors through tourism. In this way, the "Colors for Antioquia" project was born, with which they literally transformed this town into an art gallery. The first step was to make the population aware through plastic arts workshops, with experts who instructed the families of the town. Then, an international contest was held to choose the artistic design that the district would carry. Peruvian painter Enrique Bustamente was the winner. Thus, in 2004, the artist painted Antioch. He started with the schools, the church, the community hall, and continued with the houses and various public spaces.

Also, as part of the economic development initiative, the inhabitants of Antioquía were trained in tourist services, in order to turn the town into a striking destination for travelers. And yes they did amazing!

Weather in Antioch

One of the best things about Antioquia is its climate, which is warm for most of the year. The best time to visit this charming town is between April and December, when the temperature usually averages 22° C.

Tourist Attractions of Antioquia

Below, we show you a list of the best places you can visit in the district of Antioquia for a tour full of unforgettable experiences.

Holy Spirit Church

The central temple of the town of Espiritu Santo offers perhaps some of the most memorable postcards of the place, with its facade full of multicolored Andean designs. Inside this church there are small altars with golden motifs and a main altar with a large altarpiece.

Local Museum of Antioch

Near the Plaza de Armas you can also find a small but interesting museum with ceramics, old utensils and tools, samples of vegetables and animals, and even mummies.

Cerrito de Amancaes Viewpoint

One of the two viewpoints that Antioquia has. You can climb it from the city, admire the colorful houses along the way and, once at the top, enjoy an unparalleled view of the picturesque town and the green valley that surrounds it.

Cochahuayco

The town of Santiago de Cochahuayco is located 3 kilometers from the town center of Espiritu Santo. You can visit the beautiful Temple of Santiago de Cochahuayco, declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation, as well as the Processing Plant that offers a tour to learn about the area's agribusiness.

Qhapaq Ñan

In the Santa Rosa de Chontay area you can find one of the best preserved segments of the Xauxa-Pachacamac section of the Inca Trail or Qhapaq Ñan. On it you can go trekking and admire the landscape.

Lurin River

In the area you can also find this river surrounded by greenery. The pools on its banks are ideal for taking a refreshing swim, as long as the waters are calm.

Archaeological Site of Nieve Nieve

Near the small town of San José de Nieve Nieve is this archaeological site that houses houses from the Inca era and even a cemetery. This town also boasts a beautiful stained-glass church and a viewpoint to contemplate incredible panoramic views.

Antioch Restaurants

In Antioquía you can find restaurants with delicious food and drinks made with local products: spicy guinea pig, shrimp chupe, pumpkin mazamorra and sodas.

How to get to Antioch?

To get there by public transport, the easiest and most direct option is to go to the intersection of Rosa Toro Avenue with Nicolás Arriola (San Luis District). There you can find the groups that go to Antioquia every day. They leave from 4am to 2pm regularly and on weekends they extend the hours a bit. The cost per person is 15 soles and they leave once they have enough passengers.