Ayacucho

Known as the "City of Churches," Ayacucho counts 33 colonial temples — one for each year of Jesus's life — across its historic centre high in the Peruvian Andes. Founded in 1540 as San Juan de la Frontera de Huamanga, the city was renamed by Simón Bolívar in 1825 to commemorate the battle that sealed Peruvian independence. It is also recognised as Peru's capital of popular art and craft, with alabaster carvings, pottery, filigree work, and the celebrated Ayacuchan retablos among its traditions. Holy Week here — considered among the most significant Easter celebrations in the world — features horse races and a local running of the bulls.

• Population140,033
• Nearest water from center0.0 km
• Nearest mountain from center2.8 km