The luxury and ostentation displayed by the architecture of these balconies was such that never, throughout the entire city, was a design ever seen twice: some were open, without closures; others were boxed, closed or angled and, the greater part, latticed. Their interiors were adorned by walls with glazed tiles from Seville which, with the passing of time, weathering and countless earthquakes which shook Lima, were replaced by equally exquisite native glazed tiles.

Small benches were built into the balconies so that the coquettish and inquisitive 'limeņas', comfortably seated, could see, without been seen, what was going on outside. A Jesuit priest and Lima historiographer, Hernabe Cobo, wrote disapproving of the use these inquisitive ladies of Lima society gave to the balconies.

So numerous were the balconies of different design and dimension that they gave the impression of being veritable aerial streets; giving Lima a fresh and unique urban touch .

When talking of these beautiful balconies it is impossible not to mention Bruno Rosselli and his endless struggle to prevent their destruction; declaring that they were for Lima as was the Eiffel Tower for Paris, the Statue of Liberty for New York and the Lions in Trafalgar Square for London.

The Lima Metropolitan Municipality is currently carrying out a campaign for the recovery of the Lima balconies; encouraging private enterprise, under the slogan of "adopt a balcony", that they be restored to their original magnificence. This proposal is being carried out by companies such as TELE 2000, the Bell South telephone group, Graņa y Montero and the Wong and Santa Isabel supermarket chains.

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