Monsefú (Colonial Mochica: Omænssefæc), founded as San Pedro de Monsefú, is a city in northern Peru, located in the Department of Lambayeque. It is the capital of the district of the same name in Chiclayo province.
Monsefú was elevated to the category of "city" on October 26, 1888, in the aftermath of the War of the PacificâÂÂduring which it was occupiedâÂÂfollwoing a request of its deputy Manuel MarÃÂa Izaga. It is known today for its gastronomy and culture, being the birthplace of a number of cumbia musical groups.
Spanish priest Fernando de la Carrera, in his work Arte de la lengua yunga (1644), argues that the word "monsefu" comes from Omænssefæc, meaning "God punishes the one who offends the earth".
Before the arrival of the Spanish, Monsefú would have been part of the chieftainship of Cinto, with the name of Chuspo, whose main center have been located in the vicinity of San Bartolo hill.
The town was founded by the Spanish under the name "San Pedro de Monsefú". In 1578, heavy rains and floods blighted the crops and in 1612, the area was ravaged by a disease. The population was reduced by the disease and survivors after a few years were located in what is now Monsefú.
The city's municipal government was established in the 1870s, replacing the Municipal Agency () and establishing the office of mayor.
In the early 1880s, the Chilean Army, under the command of Patricio Lynch, occupied the area and its surroundings during the War of the Pacific, where infrastructure was built by the Chilean authorities for both the locals and the troops' use, with the latter residing in a barracks. After the war, the town was elevated to city level on October 26, 1888 at the request of deputy Manuel MarÃÂa Izaga, under the presidency of Andrés Avelino Cáceres.
Monsefú is administered by a municipal government that also governs Monsefú District. The Catholic Church in Peru administers both divisions as part of the Diocese of Chiclayo.
The following is a list of mayors since the establishment of a municipal government:
The city has a varied semitropical temperature, since part of its territory is on the shore of the sea, and another is located in the valley of the Reque River.
The city is known for its food and handicrafts, both on display at its annual FEXTICUM festival, named in 1973 by Professor Limberg Chero Ballena and held in July during the Fiestas Patrias. It is also the home of cumbia groups Grupo 5 and Hermanos Yaipen.