Moorish Arch, Lima facts for kids
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The arch in Leguía Avenue
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| Material | Cement and majolica |
|---|---|
| Height | 29 metres |
| Beginning date | July 10, 1923 |
| Completion date | July 17, 1924 |
| Dismantled date | 1939 |
The Moorish Arch, also known as the Friendship Arch or Spanish Arch, was a special archway built in Lima, Peru. It stood at the start of Leguía Avenue, which is now called Arequipa Avenue. This arch looked like buildings from North Africa and Spain, a style called neo-Moorish. It was opened in 1924 to celebrate 100 years of Peru's independence. Sadly, it was taken down in 1939.
Contents
What Was the Moorish Arch?
The Moorish Arch was a very tall structure, about 29 meters high. That's like a 9-story building! It was made of cement and decorated with colorful majolica tiles. These tiles had designs of stars and crescents. The arch also had two tall, slender towers called minarets.
It was located in the Santa Beatriz neighborhood of Lima. You would have seen it where Leguía Avenue met 28 de Julio Avenue.
Why Was the Arch Built?
In 1921, Peru celebrated 100 years of being independent from Spain. This big event was called the Centennial of the Independence of Peru. Many groups of people from other countries who lived in Peru wanted to give gifts. These gifts were often monuments or buildings.
The Spanish community in Peru decided to give a special gift: the Friendship Arch. It was built in the Moorish style, which was popular in Spain. We don't know who designed the arch. The original drawings were lost during the Spanish Civil War in Spain.
Building the arch started on July 10, 1923. It was finished and given to the city of Lima on July 17, 1924. The opening ceremony was a big event. Important people like President Augusto B. Leguía and the mayor of Lima were there.
Why Was the Arch Taken Down?
In 1938, a new president, Óscar R. Benavides, decided the arch had to go. His government said it was causing traffic problems. They wanted to make Arequipa Avenue wider.
The arch was destroyed with dynamite the next year, in 1939. This made the Spanish community very upset. Some people even thought it was a way for President Benavides to get back at former President Leguía.
Years later, in 2015, a group called ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) found something important. They warned that the remains of the arch's foundations were being destroyed. This happened during construction work for a new overpass on 28 de Julio Avenue.
A New Friendship Arch
A politician named Carlos Dargent really wanted to rebuild the arch. He first tried to have it rebuilt in its original spot. When that didn't work, he suggested other places in Lima.
Finally, when he became mayor of the Santiago de Surco district, he made it happen. Different Spanish companies helped pay for the new arch.
On September 25, 2001, the new Friendship Arch was opened. It looks just like the old one! The King and Queen of Spain, Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, were there for the opening. The new arch is in the María Graña Ottone Friendship Park in Surco. You can find it where Alfredo Benavides and Caminos del Inca avenues meet.
See also
In Spanish: Arco Morisco para niños
- Centennial of the Independence of Peru § Foreign gifts
