Santiago de Surco

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Santiago de Surco, commonly known simply as Surco, is a district of Lima, Peru. It is bordered on the north by the districts of La Molina, Ate and San Borja; on the south by Chorrillos; on the east by La Molina, Villa María del Triunfo and San Juan de Miraflores; and on the west by San Borja, Miraflores, Surquillo and Barranco.

Distrito de Santiago de Surco
Area 34.75 km²
Population
  - Total
  - Density
251 648 (2002 estimate)
7241.7/km²
Mayor Carlos Dargent
Established as
a district		 Early 1820s
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Due to its relatively large area, it is a very heterogeneous district, having inhabitants belonging to all socio-economic levels.

The northern part of Surco, which is close to San Borja and La Molina, is known as Monterrico and is considerably more developed than the southern side of the district, having more upper class housing and the four major shopping centers of the district.

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[edit] Culture, education and entertainment

Some of the most exclusive and prestigious schools and universities of Lima are located in Surco, including University of Lima, Universidad Ricardo Palma, and Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas.

Many of Lima's largest shopping centers are also located in the district, including "Jockey Plaza Shopping Center", "Caminos del Inca", "Chacarilla" and "El Polo".

Santiago de Surco has won five awards for having some of the best-kept green areas in Lima.

La Vendimia (grapevine): The Viticulture Association and the Municipality of Surco sponsor this showcase for regional crafts, cuisine and wine processes within the framework of the "Vineyard Harvest of Surco." The craft of wine preparation is demonstrated through macerating grapes by the traditional method of treading by foot. Grape fermentation and aging processes are also shown. A Reina de la Vendimia (Queen of the Harvest) is chosen and local performers stage their talents. This seasonal festival takes place from March 17 to 26, annually and it is one of the most traditionalist festivities. It is celebrated in downtown Surco.

[edit] Transport

Several of Lima's most important avenues pass through Surco, including the South avenues, which connect the district with downtown Lima, San Isidro (Lima's financial district), and Miraflores.

[edit] Urbanization

San Roque is a urbanization located between the 47th and 52nd Tomas Marsano Ave. blocks. It was created in 1955. San Roque's main artery is El Sol Ave. Some of the most important schools are Colegio Particular San Roque, Colegio Nacional Jose María Arguedas, Colegio Particular San Benito de Palermo, Colegio Manuel Polo Jimenez, Etc.

[edit] History

The Santiago de Surco area was already populated before Inca times. During the Viceroyalty of Peru, Surco became a vacation spot for the Spaniards. Back in those times, Surco comprised not only its current territory but also the area of present-day Barranco, Chorrillos, and other areas.

Shortly after Peru's independence in 1821, under the government of Simón Bolívar, Surco was created officially as one of the seven districts that comprised the city of Lima. Its territory also included present-day Barranco, Chorrillos, and Miraflores. The two latter districts became independent districts in 1857. Barranco seceded some time later.

During the War of the Pacific, the Chilean invading soldiers sacked and burned the surroundings of the San Juan Grande Church. This church was constructed by the Jesuit order in 1752, utilizing only adobe, canes, stones and wood. It is possible to stand out that due to the Spanish monarch Carlos III's disagreements with the Jesuit order, they were expelled in 1767 from all the Spanish colonies and their properties resulted confiscated. Thus this place was abandoned, thereafter, it was sold through an auction, being this one who named it San Juan Grande, in order to auctioning the property, it was divided into a small and a large parcels. The church took its name from the large (grande) parcel , which was the only one that was sold.

In the patio that divides the church from the house-property there was an immense pine tree of more than 300 years of age but even though it fell broken in January of 2001, It is the mute witness of a kid's feat who became a hero at the age of 13 and during the San Juan y Miraflores battle he immolated for the sake of the mother country.

The house-property was used as a shelter for Cáceres' troops, who didn't know where the chilean troops would attack from, which, few hours earlier have just disembarked in Conchán. But there the little kid hero Julio César Escobar was on the very tip top of the pinetree as a watch. It was too late when he warned about the chilean troops' presence, they had to flee through the shooting that had already begun. The patriots were defeated and the kid hero was shot dead close-by the immense pinetree, the church was converted in a stable, thereafter, Santiago was sacked and burned.

Today, Santiago de Surco is among the most modern and progressive districts in Peru.

[edit] External links


Districts of the Lima and Callao Metropolitan Area Coat of arms of Callao
Lima

Ancón | Ate | Barranco | Breña | Carabayllo | Chaclacayo | Chorrillos | Cieneguilla | Comas | El Agustino | Independencia | Jesús María | La Molina | La Victoria | Lima | Lince | Los Olivos | Lurigancho | Lurín | Magdalena del Mar | Miraflores | Pachacamac | Pucusana | Pueblo Libre | Puente Piedra | Punta Hermosa | Punta Negra | Rímac | San Bartolo | San Borja | San Isidro | San Juan de Lurigancho | San Juan de Miraflores | San Luis | San Martín de Porres | San Miguel | Santa Anita | Santa María del Mar | Santa Rosa | Santiago de Surco | Surquillo | Villa El Salvador | Villa María del Triunfo
Callao

Bellavista | Callao | Carmen de la Legua Reynoso | La Perla | La Punta | Ventanilla
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