Casa de Correos y Telégrafos facts for kids
The Casa de Correos y Telégrafos is a famous and beautiful old building in Lima, the capital of Peru. In English, its name means House of Post and Telegraphs. For over a century, it has served as the city's main post office. You can find it in the historic centre of Lima, near the city's main square, the Plaza Mayor.
The building is more than just a post office. It also holds the Postal and Philatelic Museum of Peru (Museo Postal y Filatélico del Perú). This museum is a great place to learn about the history of mail and see collections of stamps. Philately is the hobby of collecting and studying stamps. The museum also has exhibits about the history of Lima.
A Historic Landmark
The Casa de Correos y Telégrafos is an important piece of Lima's history. It was built between 1892 and 1897, making it well over 100 years old.
Grand Design
The building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style, which was very popular in the late 19th century. This style is known for its grand, formal, and highly decorated look, inspired by classical Greek and Roman architecture. The building has two floors and covers a large area of 6,537 square metres.
Unique Features
On the outside of the building, you can see a large clock. There is also a unique bronze sculpture of a lion. The lion is shown with its mouth open, as if it is eating letters and mail, which is a fun nod to the building's purpose.
Inside, there is a special walkway called the Pasaje Piura, also known as the Pasaje del Correo (Post Office Passage). This passage was added in 1924 and is lined with small shops, making it a lively place to walk through.
What's Inside Today?
Today, the Casa de Correos y Telégrafos is still a busy place.
- It has a working post office run by Serpost, Peru's national postal service.
- It is home to the Postal and Philatelic Museum.
- The Pasaje Piura offers a unique shopping experience inside a historic building.
See also
In Spanish: Casa de Correos y Telégrafos para niños
- Serpost