The history of Talara, a city in the Peruvian north keeps a strong relation with the oil industry of the first years of the 20th century, since at this time the city was known as the black gold capital due to the abundance of oil, a resource that -for centuries- was ignored because it was unknown its potential. The first sign of this resource in the area was a pitch well that was used by the old inhabitants of the region, the tallanes, with artisan purposes. In the colonial period, the lands that harbored secretely the wealth of this oil resource changed constantly of owner. With the passage of centuries, the family Lama were the last owners of that territory, who, once they knew about the oil boom out of the country, decided to negotiate the use and sale in some cases of the land with foreign companies. This way started a new period in the history of the northern Talara, since the oil did not bring only business owners to invest in the oil resourse, but also transformed the social configuration of the environment with the immigrations and camp settlements of people who arrived to work in the oil wells. Nevertheless, the social problems started because of the excessive exploitation to the workers, who, due to the abuses, rose up in strikes that with the passage of time, obtained a better labor situation in the oil industry of Talara.

Trujillo was founded in 1534 by Diego de Almagro, under the name “Villa of Truxillo”. With the passing of time Trujillo would consolidate as one of the most important cities of the Peruvian viceroyalty, for being an administrative and commercial center, essential for the colonial system. During the independence period, Trujillo had a relevant role on Peru’s Independence, what gave the surname of “Ciudad Benemérita y Fidelísima a la Patria” (“Meritorious city and Faithful to the Homeland”). Besides that, it was the first city to break free from Spain. During the 19th century, and later that the Moche and Chicama valleys emerged as settlements of the sugar industry and the economy grew, new residents came to the city; mostly were european immigrants, what contributed to the development of a local esthetic, since the constructions took breathing from the neoclassical style.