Zaña
Ruins of an entirely different sort, this 16th-century ghost town was once an important and wealthy colonial outpost, loaded with churches and monasteries. On the fast track toward becoming the Peruvian capital, it underwent a turbulent period of slave rebellion and pirate attacks. Wealthy families fled to Lambayeque city, and Zaña was soon afterward wiped out by a massive flood in 1720. The overflowing Río Zaña caused such structural damage that the population abandoned the city. Today it's a curious sight of ornate columns, church arches, and the remains of the once-grand Gothic Convento de San Agustín (as well as three other convents). A small, inhabited village (also called Zaña) is nearby.
Ruins of an entirely different sort, this 16th-century ghost town was once an important and wealthy colonial outpost, loaded with churches and monasteries. On the fast track toward becoming the Peruvian capital, it underwent a turbulent period of slave rebellion and pirate attacks. Wealthy families fled to Lambayeque city, and Zaña was soon afterward wiped out by a massive flood in 1720. The overflowing Río Zaña caused such structural damage that the population abandoned the city. Today it's a curious sight of ornate columns, church arches, and the remains of the once-grand Gothic Convento de San Agustín (as well as three other convents). A small, inhabited village (also called Zaña) is nearby.
Details
Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
