Timeless by the Sea

In 1920, Rosalía Zignano de Botto acquired part of the former El Pacayar estate. Three years later, Polish architect Ricardo de Jaxa Malachowski designed two twin mansions with tiled roofs, ornate façades, and a central tower. Originally a single residence, the property was later divided in the 1940s.

The process revived sculpted façades, mosaic floors, and intricate ornamentation. Local artisans recovered and reassembled the original tiles, replicating lost pieces with the same French seal that once adorned them.

In 1987, the main house was declared a National Monument for its architectural value, for being the work of the famous architect and for keeping an important part of the history of the district and the city. This is what the Ministry of Culture reveals about the house on Carlos Zegarra Street. There is not much more information about the original house, as it was in a rather ruinous state.

This project, as a house in Barranco, was quite special because it has a lot of ornamentation, a facade with sculptural elements such as the mosaic frieze, and recovering all that was a challenge. They also added constructive features, such as the fact that, unlike other mansions of the time, this house was only protected by tiles that had come loose over time.

Recognized by both the Peruvian government and UNESCO, the casona — declared a National Monument in 1987 — stands as one of Barranco’s most emblematic architectural treasures.

Now reborn as a boutique hotel, Villa Barranco unites both mansions into a single retreat — preserving the spirit of the original property while offering the quiet elegance of contemporary Lima.