PRIVATE COLLECTION
"Nativity scenes from Peru and the worls”

Avenida Santo Toribio, in the exclusive neighbourhood of San Isidro, Mr. Wilhelm Helbling built what has, over the years, become one of the few town houses preserved in its original condition, and which now contains the private collection of the Luna Elias family, collectors of "Niños Manuelitos", who will greet you with their generous message of family, tradition and art.

Javier Luna Elias, an architect and great great grandson of President of Peru Domingo Elias - a landowner in Ica who sent that grape brandy known as Pisco to the court of Napoleon the 3rd - is a fervent patriot and defender of Peruvian culture and a former director of the National Museum of Peru.

In addition to the exhibition of nativity scenes, the house also contains exquisite examples of Peruvian art over the centuries: pre-Columbian, examples from the colonial era and contemporary works that show the oral tradition of Peruvian myths and legends transmitted by the hosts, a journey through Peruvian culture, scenery, music and people...
The marinera, Peru's national dance, occupies a special place in this house.

In the dining room you can see old recipes collected by the family, which will introduce you to the smells and flavours of Peru's extraordinary gastronomy.
The private collection: "Nativity Scenes from Peru and around the World”, offers visitors the following options through Lima Tours:

Guided tours
private lunches or dinners for groups in the dining room, courtyard or exhibition rooms.
The house is available for single groups to lunch or dine and reservations must be made.

Special events
The large courtyard can be used for displays of folk art, with images projected onto the walls and special lighting and sound, dance and music from the coast, highlands and jungle of Peru, Peruvian chamber music, soloists, Peruvian pictures and talks about old Lima, as required by the organisers.