This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2010)

Piura
Piura's Plaza de Armas
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): La Primera Ciudad (The First City)
Piura Location in Peru
Coordinates: 5°12′S 80°38′W / 5.2°S 80.633°W / -5.2; -80.633Coordinates: 5°12′S 80°38′W / 5.2°S 80.633°W / -5.2; -80.633
Country	Peru
Region	Piura
Province	Piura
Founded	1532
Government
• Alcalde	Jose Aguilar Santisteban
Area
• City	621.2 km2 (239.8 sq mi)
Population
• City	28,888
• Urban	377,496[citation needed]
Time zone	UTC/GMT-5
Area code(s)	73
Website	www.munipiura.gob.pe

Piura is a city in northwestern Peru. It is the capital of the Piura Region^[1] and the Piura Province. The population is 377,496.

It was here that Spanish Conqueror Francisco Pizarro founded the third Spanish city in South America and first in Peru, San Miguel de Piura, in July 1532. Piura declared its independence on 4 January 1821.^[2]

History [link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Like most of northern Peru, the territory of Piura has been inhabited by their autochthonous group of natives called tallanes and yungas. These lived without an organization or single leader to rule until the Muchik culture eventually took control, and the mixture of these evolved into the Vicús culture. Centuries later, Piura came under the rule of Tupac Inca Yupanqui for at least 40 years, and before the Spanish arrived.

With the arrival of the Spanish in 1532, the current mestizo and creole cultures of Piura were born. This mestizo culture includes influences from Spanish Extremadura and Andalucia, African influence due to the arrival of slaves from Madagascar (Malgache slaves), the Chinese coolies that migrated from Canton to work the rice fields and replace the slaves; and also Roma Gypsies who came as pirates looking for pearls or incognito as Spanish horsemen.

The Spanish named the city from the Quechuan word, pirhua, meaning abundance. Nowadays, Piura is known as the "Ciudad del eterno calor" meaning "The city of the eternal heat" because it is hot all year round.

Climate [link]

Tourism [link]

One of the best known tourist attractions in Piura is La Esmeralda beach, known as Colan for it is located near the town of Colan. Colan beach is a very long beach with warm waters. Local people like to go there during holidays.

There are also great spots for surfers, like Mancora Beach and Cabo Blanco.

Piura is served by the Cap. FAP Guillermo Concha Iberico International Airport.

Culture and folklore [link]

Piura is host to a stunning mestizo culture (one of the oldest in South America, Piura is the third Spanish city founded on that continent) most famous for gastronomical dishes like Seco de chabelo, algarrobina-based drinks, many types of seafood and fish, like ceviche and Natilla Sweets. Popular crafts are the Chulucana Pottery and Catacaos is famous for its "Hats" and "Silversmith" arts. The small town of Simbila, is very popular for its handcrafts and pottery. The tondero and cumanana are the traditional music of mestizo Piura and northern parts of Lambayeque. There are also several famous Peruvian Waltz that came from these regions (northern Peruvians have their own style).

Universities [link]

• Universidad de Piura
• Universidad Nacional de Piura
• Universidad César Vallejo
• Filial de la Universidad Alas Peruanas Janet Navas Torres (Main campus in Lima)
• Filial de la Universidad de Los Angeles de Chimbote (Main campus in Chimbote)
• Filial de la Universidad San Pedro de Chimbote (Main Campus in Chimbote)

Churches [link]

• Iglesia Catedral de Piura was founded in 1588, located in the Plena Plaza de Armas, is an icon of the city
• Iglesia San Francisco was founded by the Franciscan Order
• Iglesia San Sebastian was founded in 1911
• Iglesia Alianza Cristiana and Missionary of Piura
• Iglesia Maria auxiliadora

Sister cities [link]

• Bahía Blanca, Argentina
• Trujillo, Spain.

v t e Peruvian cities with a population of over 100,000 Arequipa Ayacucho Cajamarca Chiclayo Chimbote Chincha Alta Cusco Huancayo Huánuco Huaraz Ica Iquitos Juliaca Lima Piura Pucallpa Puno Sullana Tacna Talara Tarapoto Trujillo

References [link]