The Tapada Limeña statues found around Lima celebrate one of the city’s most distinctive cultural icons: the Tapada Limeña, a woman of colonial and early republican Lima who wore a saya (skirt) and manto (veil), covering her face except for a single eye. This unique style was common from the 16th through the 19th centuries and became a symbol of Lima’s identity. By concealing their identities, women could move through the city with a degree of anonymity and independence that was unusual for the period. Historians often view the tradition as an early expression of female autonomy in colonial Peru. Authorities repeatedly tried to ban the practice, but the women of Lima continued to wear the attire for centuries. All photos created using the Nikon Z8 with the Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 or 24-200mm f/4 lens. Processed using Photoshop CC and Nik Collection’s Color Efex Pro.

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