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.

The name Huaraz comes from “waraq”, a word in quechua which means sunrise. The origins of Huaraz go back to the Pre-Inca period, when the first human settlement took place close to the rivers Quilcay and Santa. It has been verified the human presence in the area of Callejón de Huaylas since 10.000 B. C., when the human beings were dedicated to harvest and hunting; this is testified by the Guitarrero cave in front of Mancos village. It was the chavín culture that was developed in this area during the Horizonte Temprano. Many years later, Spanish people founded the city as San Sebastián de Huaraz, in 1574 and Simón Bolívar called the city “noble and generous”, because of its support to the liberating army during the independence of Peru. It was also called the “capital of international friendship”, in recognition of its help to the victims of the earthquake of 1970 in Áncash; on the seism 20.000 people from Huaraz died and 95% of the city was reduced to ashes.Huaraz is the capital of Áncash department and is considered the “Peruvian Switzerland” for being located on the surroundings of the snowy mountain of Cordillera Blanca. The development of Huaraz is based in the agriculture, trade and tourism, because in Huaraz is concentrated most of the tourist activity of the Sierra de Áncash.