An iron bridge for Lima: history of the Balta Bridge

Abstract

In recent decades, the management of the cultural heritage of the Historic Center of Lima has received particular attention, due to the appearance of local regulations aligned with international legal instruments that have highlighted the need for its conservation and dissemination. In this framework, historical research plays an essential role in the heritage management process since it provides a deep understanding of the contexts in which heritage assets appeared and, in turn, testifies to the changes they have undergone over time. This is key not only because it helps to conserve assets and places, but also because it identifies values and meanings of/for a community, which can strengthen the sense of belonging and continuity between generations. For the aforementioned reasons, this document seeks to historicize one of the most representative buildings of the city of Lima since the second half of the 19th century, the Balta Bridge, as one of the roads that connects the monumental areas of Lima and the Rímac in the Historic Center of our city.