The tour through the large and old Colonial and Republican houses will introduce you to the opulence that this city lived, during that period of its history. The aged-residences stand out for their sober facades, while the artistic bars of cast iron on its large windows add a touch of distinction and elegance. In the interior, its luxuriously decorated rooms and its ample patios with tiles of the era stick out. Some of the houses you will visit are:
The Casa Urquiaga, now housing the Banco de la Reserva, hosts a collection of furniture, art, mirrors and pre-Columbian ceramics. The House of Marshal Orbegoso from the 17th. century is a traditional Colonial house with pitted floors, simple ceilings, and with ample decorated rooms. This was the home of José Luis Orbegoso, who led troops during the War of Independence and served as president of Peru from 1833 to 1838.
The Casa de la Emancipación, a beautifully restored republican home where Marquis Torre Tagle signed a document declaring Trujillo's independence from Spain in 1820-long before the libertadores arrived. The house also contains a small exhibit on César Vallejo, Peru's most famed poet, who was born in the nearby mountain town of Santiago de Chuco.
The Palacio Itúrregui which houses the Club Central (a private club). The house was built in 1855 in the Italian Neo-Renaissance style by General Juan Manuel Itúrregui and has three plazas ringed with ornate columns, marble floors and ceilings with golden moldings.