Trujillo, Peru
From Freepedia
Trujillo is a city in northwestern Peru. It is the capital of the La Libertad Region and the Trujillo Province, and is the third-largest city in the country, behind Lima and Arequipa.
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| City nickname: "La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera" ("The City of Eternal Spring") | |||
| Image:Location of the city of Trujillo in Peru.png | |||
| Mayor | José Murgia Zannier | ||
| Population - Total | 652 000 (2004) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 | ||
| Height | 34 m (111 ft) | ||
| Latitude Longitude | 8º1' S 79º0' W | ||
| Official website: www.munitrujillo.gob.pe | |||
Contents |
History
Trujillo was founded in 1534 by Diego de Almagro under the name of "Villa Trujillo" in honour of Francisco Pizarro's birthplace, Trujillo in Extremadura, Spain.
Climate
This city has a dry climate with an average temperature of 18 ºC, and summer temperatures reaching 28 °C. In every season of the year and almost every day, around midday, the city is blessed with very nice and sunny weather, is for that reason that Trujillo is well known as “The city of the eternal spring". The International Spring Festival in early October attracts visitors from all over the country and increasingly, from all over the world.
Economy
Trujillo is the most important economical center of northern Peru and an inland commercial and transportation center for the surrounding farming areas. In 1800, extensive irrigated agriculture caused Trujillo to greatly expand, especially fueled by the sugarcane industry. Today asparagus, rice and shoes are its main products. Among the internationally known products of Trujillo nowadays, one finds asparagus which are exported to neighbouring countries, Europe and the United States. The areas around Trujillo may be the largest exporters of white asparagus in the world. In the ambit of asparagus exports, due mainly to nearby production, Peru occupies the second place in terms of production quantity, being responsible for 14% of world production, China being first. Peru has maintained quality standards for longer though. Shoe production is another major industry in the city.
Tourism
Tourism has gained ground in Trujillo due to its closeness to important sites where Moche and Chimu civilizations evolved. Trujillo aspires to be considered a World Heritage Site, because of the proximity of both those cultures and its historical colonial city centre whose old houses attract many visitors. Nearby ruins include the Chimu mud city of Chan Chan, the Moche ruins of Huaca del Sol, Huaca de la Luna, and El Brujo. The world-famous beach Huanchaco is located just north of Trujillo. In addition, the revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar lived in a house on the Plaza de Armas.
Miscellaneous
Trujillo is home to the National University of Trujillo (UNT), founded in 1824. The University has an excellent archaeological museum. The city is also host to a large English school called El Cultural, which highlights the understanding of American culture.
