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Philippines
Lima’s city parks
Lima is a large and busy metropolis, but there are still some wonderful places where you can get away from it all and relax. The city boasts a number of beautiful city parks and lovely squares. Although these are the perfect spot for a relaxing picnic, these locations have more than just peace and greenery. Lima’s parks also offer lots of entertainment, romance, art, culture and exceptional biodiversity.
Technically Lima lies in a desert. But even though the city is built in one of the driest places in the world, there is still plenty of green. This is due to the melt water that flows from the mountains and provides a natural irrigation source for all kinds of plants; even non-native plants thrive here. Additionally, in recent years the city has restored many city parks and squares in an attempt to make Lima more attractive.
Fountain Playground
Initially, the news of an ambitious fountain complex to be built in the Parque de la Reserva was met with protests. However, once the residents of Lima saw the illuminated fountains, they welcomed the installation with open arms. The Circuito Mágico del Agua, the largest fountain complex in the world, leads visitors along 13 fantastic fountains with music and light shows. The park opens at 4:00 pm and the fountains are at their most beautiful after sunset.
A park for lovers
The colourful mosaics of the Parque del Amor are reminiscent of those in the Park Güell in Barcelona. But this park has its own theme: love. The walls are decorated with romantic poems and in the centre we find the sculpture El Beso (the Kiss), a work by Peruvian artist Victor Delfín. Situated on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Parque del Amor was appropriately inaugurated on Valentine's Day of 1993 with a contest of the longest kiss. The park is a wonderful place to enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Nature park
To really get away from the city, visit Pantanos de Villa. This nature reserve lies an hour south of downtown Lima. Pantanos de Villa is a wetland with a unique biodiversity. The small, deep lagoons of this nature reserve are home to fish, reptiles, insects and more than 170 bird species that are representative of coastal Peru. Enjoy beautiful walks and boat trips through the reserve.
Photo credits
- El Beso in Parque del Amor: gary yim, Shutterstock
- Pantanos de Villa nature reserve: Ministerio del Ambiente, Flickr