Ayacucho, Peru among Lonely Planet’s ten greatest comeback cities

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 chose the Andean city of Ayacucho, in Southern Peru, as one of the ten greatest comeback cities in the world.

“Now it’s a colonial gem of the Andes rivalling Cusco for majesty,” reads the description of Ayacucho in the Lonely Planet’s website.

Thirty years ago Ayacucho was the birthplace of Sendero Luminoso -Shining Path-, the Maoist terrorist organization that decimated Peru for decades.

“The turnaround in Ayacucho has been monumental: paved roads only reached here in 1999. Since then tatty house facades have been spruced up and streets pedestrianised to get that idyllic, untouched-by-time feeling flowing again through the city,” assures Lonely Planet.

“A cluster of chic-but-cheap hotels and restaurants have opened too, all in complete harmony with the buzzing colonial vib,” concludes.

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ENTERTAINMENT TIP: If looking for fun at night, or to watch sports during the day, or even a taste of home, visit the Wild Rover Hostels for great food, sports and beer! Entrance to their bars is free even for non-guests

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The other nine cities chosen by the famous travel website are Berlin (Germany), Beirut (Lebanon), Asmara (Eritrea), Glasgow (Scotland), León (Nicaragua), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Volgograd (Russia), Yellowknife (Canada), and Belgrade (Serbia).