The Arch of the Heroes is 18m high and was built to honour heroes of the War of the Pacific. It was inaugurated on 28th August 1959, the 30th anniversary of Tacna returning to being part of Peru. Francisco Bolognesi Cervantes is a Peruvian military hero who had a distinguished career before returning to the army after retirement to take part in the War of the Pacific. He led the defense of Arica against superior Chilean forces and was killed when the city finally fell on 7th June 1880. He was declared patron of the Army of Peru on 2nd January 1951.