Casa de la Emancipacion

Casa de la Emancipacion was the site where Peru planned and declared its independence from Spain.

History of Casa de la Emancipacion

Since the 16th century, Peru had been under Spanish control: the Viceroy of Peru ruled, and was appointed by the Spanish government. Much of Latin America began increasingly unsatisfied with being under Spanish control, and in the late 18th/early 19th century, independence movements began to grow and gain popular support across South America.

The Peruvian Wars of Independence are generally accepted to have started in 1811, and finished in 1826 – independence was in fact declared in 1820 however there were plenty of royalists around Peru, particularly in Lima, and fighting continued for several years after this declaration.

The Casa de la Emancipacion was where Trujillo’s independence from colonial rule was officially declared on 29 December 1820, and it became the home of Peru’s first independent government after this. In 1823, it became the seat of the first Constituent Congress.

It was officially declared a historic monument in 1971, and was turned into a museum shortly afterwards.

Casa de la Emancipacion today

Today the colonial-era house is owned and run by the Fundacion BBVA, an organisation designed to promote culture and education, particularly around Peru’s cultural heritage. It houses galleries and exhibition spaces filled with historic artefacts, important cultural documents and items of historic significance to Trujillo in particular.

The Casa de la Emancipacion also houses cultural events like art exhibitions and occasionally live music events – look up the calendar before you go as they’re often extremely enjoyable.

Getting to Casa de la Emancipacion

The Casa de la Emancipacion is in the historic centre of Trujillo, between Jirón Gamarra and Jirón Francisco Pizarro. Buses stop on the Avenida Espana which circles this area: it’s about a 10 minute walk from there to the museum. It’s easiest to access everything in the centro historico by foot, so if you’re coming by taxi, get them to drop you and walk the last bit.