The Riva-Agüero Institute (, IRA) is an institute created in 1947 by the

Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (, PUCP) is a private university in Lima, Peru. It was founded in 1917 with the support and approval of the Catholic church, being the oldest private institution of higher learning in the country. The Peru ...

, named after its benefactor, José de la Riva-Agüero y Osma. Located in the Casona Riva-Agüero of the

historic centre of Lima The Historic Centre of Lima () is the historic city centre of the city of Lima, the capital of Peru. Located in the city's districts of Lima and Rímac, both in the Rímac Valley, it consists of two areas: the first is the Monumental Zone est ...

, where Riva-Agüero lived until his dath, it serves a research centre for the

human sciences Human science (or human sciences in the plural) studies the philosophical, biological, social, justice, and cultural aspects of human life. Human science aims to expand the understanding of the human world through a broad interdisciplinary appro ...

that in 1955 reached the category of "School of Higher Studies" (). It is divided into six research sections:

Archaeology Archaeology or archeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of Artifact (archaeology), artifacts, architecture, biofact (archaeology), biofacts or ecofacts, ...

, Law,

Ethnology Ethnology (from the , meaning 'nation') is an academic field and discipline that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationships between them (compare cultural, social, or sociocultural anthropology). Sci ...

, philosophy,

Language Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and signed language, signed forms, and may also be conveyed through writing syste ...

and Literature, and History.

History

The institute was founded three years after the death of Peruvian intellectual and politician José de la Riva-Agüero y Osma: the

(PUCP), an institution to which he bequeathed his assets, welcomed an initiative by his friends and acquaintances to continue his life's work, agreeing to the institute's creation in October 1946 and formally founding it in a ceremony at his home at Lártiga Street that took place on May 18, 1947. As part of the ceremony, Nuncio Luigi Arrigoni celebrated

mass Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...

on the same day.

Headquarters

The IRA operates in two historic buildings owned by the PUCP located in the centre of Lima: the Casona Riva-Agüero (headquarters) and the Casona O'Higgins.

Casona Riva-Agüero

The Casona Riva-Agüero, also known as the Casa Ramírez de Arellano, was built in 1760 by the Spanish colonel Domingo Ramírez de Arellano y Martínez de Tejada, to be used as a family home by him and his descendants. It is considered one of the main attractions of the

and one of the best preserved ancient buildings in the city. It was owned by the Marquises of Montealegre de Aulestia and donated to the PUCP by the last of his descendants: José de la Riva-Agüero y Osma. In addition to classrooms and offices, there is a library, a historical archive known as the Riva-Agüero Historical Archive (), and the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions. The archive houses the documents inherited by Riva-Agüero from his ancestors, as well as those produced during his lifetime.

Casona O'Higgins

The original construction of the Casona O'Higgins dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. The construction was modified over time depending on the use given to the property. The Chilean hero

Bernardo O'Higgins Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (; 20 August 1778 – 24 October 1842) was a Chilean independence leader who freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. He was a wealthy landowner of Basque people, Basque-Spanish people, Spani ...

spent his adolescence in the building, during the government of his father: Ambrosio O'Higgins, viceroy of Peru. In 1830, during his exile, he rented the house, which he occupied with his family until his death in 1842. The house became property of the PUCP as part of the legacy left by Riva-Agüero. The archeology section and the Josefina Ramos de Cox museum operate there.

References

{{coord, -12.0471, -77.0333, type:landmark_region:PE, display=title Pontifical Catholic University of Peru Buildings and structures in Lima Historic Centre of Lima

History

Headquarters

Casona Riva-Agüero

Casona O'Higgins

See also

References