La dualità dei "Barrios Altos" di Lima. Un’area a rischio: tra degrado urbano e attrative turistiche

The "Barrios Altos" of Lima is an urban area that borders the historic center of Lima. Although it is considered a dangerous zone due to significant levels of urban and architectural decay, which leads to social conflicts, a sort of network of tourist sites has actually developed. These include the "Quinta Heeren", one of the first private residence complexes in Lima; a stone known as la "Piedra del diablo", regarded as an oracle from the Inca period; the "Bastión Santa Lucia", a remnant of the city’s defensive walls; and the first cemetery called "Presbitero Maestro", among others. Unfortunately, the coexistence of these two contrasting realities prevents the full potential of this area from being unveiled, as it remains historically marginalized in terms of economic development, social inclusion and access to services, despite its significant cultural and historical value for the city and its inhabitants. Therefore, this contribution aims to critically analyze the historical development of the "Barrios Altos" attempting to trace the possible origins of this urban duality, through the study of the urban plans and their regeneration proposals, emphasizing the absence of the cultural identity factor as a crucial element in reducing the level of marginalization.