Peru's Chan Chan was the largest pre-Columbian city in South America.
Peru is a large state in western South America with numerous famous archeological sites. The Inca cities at Cusco and Machu Picchu, as well as the mysterious geoglyphs etched in sands of the Nazca Desert get most notoriety. But the rich past of Peru includes heritage of even older cultures and several other sites are steadily gaining in popular recognition.
One such site is the Chan Chan Archeological Complex on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, near Trujillo in western Peru. It features remains of a Chimu city, which served as an imperial capital until the state was conquered by the Incas in the 15th century AD. With an approximate area of 20 square kilometers, the city would have been home to roughly 50 thousand people and is considered to be the largest city in South America before arrival of the Europeans. Although mostly in ruins, its former glory can still be witnessed, today. Remains include massive walls, citadels, temples, residences and funeral platforms. Its layout shows a highly hierarchical society with nobles, servants, farmers and craftsmen.
Although excavation and restoration work is ongoing, much of the site is open to visitors. Chimu culture is still relatively unknown to the public but Chan Chan is gaining in recognition with steadily increasing numbers of international tourists.