About the city and the twinning
About San Borja
San Borja is a district of metropolitan Lima, the capital of Peru. It was established as a separate municipality on 1 June 1983, when it was carved out of the neighbouring district of Surquillo. Today, San Borja is home to major cultural institutions, including the National Library of Peru and the Gran Teatro Nacional, a venue for music, dance and theatre.
The district’s history reaches back to pre-Hispanic times. One of its principal archaeological landmarks is Huaca San Borja, an earthen platform pyramid built by the Ichma culture. The site stands near the intersection of Avenida Canadá and Avenida De la Arqueología, where its surviving walls, passageways and enclosures offer a glimpse of the settlements that preceded modern Lima.
San Borja also has a connection to Peru’s Palestinian community. In 2018, the district inaugurated Plaza Palestina on Avenida San Borja Sur, recognising the longstanding presence of the Palestinian community in Peru. The square features arches inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.
Twinning with Bethlehem
On 1 November 2019, Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman and San Borja Mayor Alberto Tejada Noriega signed a twinning agreement at a ceremony in San Borja. The signing was attended by Palestine’s ambassador to Peru, Walid Muaqqat, Beit Jala Mayor Nicola Khamis, and members of the Palestinian community in Peru.
The agreement provides for exchanges in culture, history, social affairs, religion and municipal administration. It also calls for joint environmental programmes, the promotion of cultural heritage, and the organisation of workshops and seminars.