Micaela Villegas

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Maria Micaela Villegas Hurtado (September 28, 1748—May 16, 1819), known as La Pericholi, was arguably the most famous Peruvian woman of the eighteenth century. She was a celebrated entertainer and the famous mistress of Manuel de Amat y Juniet, Viceroy of Peru from 1761 to 1776. Their son, Manuel de Amat y Villegas, was one of the signers of Peru’s declaration of independence from Spain on July 28, 1821.

La Perricholi was the sixth child born to Don José Villegas and Doña Teresa Hurtado de Mendoza. Born in either Tomayquichua (in the province of Huanuco) or the capital city of Lima, she was baptized at the Lima Cathedral on December 1, 1748.

Her story provided the basis for Prosper Mérimée’s comic novella Le Carrosse du Saint-Sacrement, which in turn provided the basis for both Jacques Offenbach’s opéra bouffe, La Périchole and Jean Renoir’s 1953 film Le Carrosse d'or (The Golden Coach).

A miniseries has also been made based on her story in Lima, Peru in the year 1994. It had great success and launched the career of the young Mónica Sánchez (that had the role of La Perricholi). It was written by Eduardo Adrianzen.

She and the Viceroy are also prominent characters in Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey.