BAPTIZED AS THE CITY OF KINGS
Lima is the capital of Peru. Situated on the central coast of the west of South America, At 154 meters above the sea level. It was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Today Lima, outstanding for his colonial architecture: baroque churches, elegant mansions and fine museums. It is a city of contrast where the typical and traditional mingle and the modern. The integration between people from different cultural backgrounds has made it an interesting and appealing lively metropolis.
Lima has been the center and meeting point for trade in this part of South America. This has also produced an incomparable diversity of culture.
With its mud-brick palaces, balconies, patios, doorways and wrought ironwork, its desert and its valleys, its sea and extraordinary sunsets, its music and food. Lima is a great city of more than eight million inhabitants

It is known us the City of Kings, this Lima of beautiful women and balconies was the principal capital city of the Americas during the vice regal period. And something remains of those splendors, especially the buildings of the Historic center, declared a World Heritage Site in 1991.

Lima is also the door through which one passes to see the marvels of Peru. A large door, indeed. Peru can be said, without exaggeration, to be a complete experience for its nature, history and living culture.

THE NIGHT ISN’T PRISTINE

Barranco is an excellent district to stay; there you can visit attractive bars with seawards. Many of them are in what were once mansions and town houses from the end of the 19th Century and some have been designed in sympathy with the architecture. Barranco is the place for a few scoops, tequila, rum, live rock, kitsch bars, and the snobbishness of Generation X.

GASTRONOMY
The famous riolla cooking is the result of the merging of native and European recipes. Also highly appreciated is Chinese cooking with its touch of Peruvian seasoning which can be tasted in all restaurants called Chifas. A good way to taste Criollo food is their “piqueo”, a lot of small plates served before the main couse, containing delicacies such as cebiche and anticuchos. Among traditional desserts there are mazamorra morada and picarones.The traditional liquor of Peru is Pisco, the basis of the famous Pisco Sour. Local wines are good and the Cusqueña beer is excellent.

LIMA ATRACTIONS

PLAZA DE ARMAS (MAIN SQUARE)
The day Lima was founded on january 18,1535, Pizarro the planner, drew the places where Government House ( today Government palace) the cathedral and the Cabilde (today the town hall ) should be buit. In the milddle of the square is a bronze fountain dating back to 1650.

THE CATHEDRAL
Initially this was placed under the benefaction of our Lady of Asuncion, the aearthquake of 1746 totally destroyed it, and viceroy Jose Antonio Manso de Velasco had it rebuilt in 1758. the interior is outstanding for the intricately worked wooden choir seats, the baroque, highly ornamented chapel to the “Inmaculada” and th carvings of Martinez Montañez. To the right when enterin, is the chapel with the remains of conquistador Francisco Pizarro.

GOVERNMENT PALACE
Also called th house of Pizarro, because since Lima was founded, this same spot has been assigned to the conquistador to carry out his government. It has its residential areas and elegant salons, such as the Golden Salon, and also has important paintings.

SANTO DOMINGO CHURCH AND CONVENT
It dates from the end of the 16th century. AT a side altar on the left, the Virgin of the Rosary is worshipped, a side altar on the right is for Peruvian saints: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porras and San Juan Masias, and under each of these images there are urns of silver containing relics of the saints.
The Convent is one of the best preserved ones in Lima and the church tower is of a singular architectural style.

SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH
This colonial architectural whole is made up by the convent and church of San Francisco, and the chapels of la Soledad and of EL Milagro.
The Convent, the cloisters and the Entrance hall are adorned with authentic Seville tiles placed in 1620. the complex is built over undrground galleries or catacombs, which served as a cementery during colonial times, and which can be visited.