Avenida España (Lima)

Spain Avenue (Spanish: Avenida España), formerly known as the Avenue of the Exhibition (Spanish: Avenida de la Exposición) and then as Alfonso XIII Avenue (Spanish: Avenida Alfonso XIII) until 1931, is an avenue in Lima, Peru. It extends from east to west in the districts of Lima and Breña along 7 blocks. The tracks of the Metropolitano extend along its route between Paseo de la República and Alfonso Ugarte Avenue.[1]

Spain Avenue
The avenue, behind the Museum of Italian Art
NamesakeSpain
Park of the Exhibition (former)
FromPaseo de la República
Major
junctions
Wilson Avenue, Alfonso Ugarte Avenue
ToJirón Varela

History

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The avenue's inception began in the early 20th century, as the city of Lima expanded westward.[2] The avenue's 3rd block begins at the site of the former Lima Penitentiary, today the Lima Civic Center.[2]

From the late 1940s to the early 1990s, the avenue's intersection with Garcilaso de la Vega was the location of the former U.S. Embassy[3][4] until its move to Monterrico due to being targeted by the terrorist group Shining Path on several occasions,[5] as well as by the MRTA, who bombed the embassy on February 14, 1990.[6]

Route

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It starts at its intersection with the Plaza Grau and the Paseo de la República with a circulating direction from east to west. Between Paseo de la República and Avenida Garcilaso de la Vega, the avenue passes under a bridge, near the Civic Center. The 4th block of the avenue houses the art deco-style building of the Provincial Sub-Prefecture of Lima.[2]

The intersection with Garcilaso de la Vega is the location of the Clínica Internacional since the 1990s[7] and of the Casa Matusita, a house known for the popular belief of being of the paranormal type.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Ruta Troncal". Metropolitano. Archived from the original on 2015-11-14.
  2. ^ a b c "Avenida España". Visita Lima.
  3. ^ Anuario bibliográfico peruano (in Spanish). Lima: Biblioteca nacional / Instituto Nacional de Cultura. 1967. p. 447. Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América [...] Dirección: Av. Wilson s/n. Lima
  4. ^ Ramírez y Berrios, Manuel Guillermo (1999). Memorias...de Memo (in Spanish). Gráfica Horizonte. p. 352. Ante esta situación que fue de dominio público, a pesar de las recomendaciones para que se guardara la mayor reserva, intervino la Embajada de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, a cuya sede de la avenida Wilson, hoy Garcilaso de la Vega, acudimos con Clyde, el jueves 18 de mayo de 1967, de lo que dan cuenta algunos diario [sic] como La Crónica, en su sección judicial del viernes 19 del indicado mes.
  5. ^ "U.S. inaugurates new embassy in Peru". United Press International. July 4, 1995.
  6. ^ "United States Embassy Bombing". LUM.
  7. ^ "Amor por la Salud" (PDF). Clínica Internacional: 6. 2014-11-27. En la década de los ochenta, Clínica Internacional es adquirida por la familia Brescia, quienes le dieron un gran impulso a nivel tecnológico y de infraestructura. Luego se compró la antigua sede de la Embajada de Estados Unidos y finalmente la esquina de jirón Washington con avenida España que pertenecía a la familia Olaechea, y que es hoy parte de las oficinas administrativas en su sede de Lima.
  8. ^ "Conozca la verdadera historia de la casa Matusita". América Noticias. 2014-06-29.