Main Square Lima

Lima City

Fouded by the Conqueror Francisco Pizarro, today we can admire the splendour of its early years

VICEROYAL CITY  

Ever since its founding in 1535 and up until the independence of other South American countries took place at the beginning of the XIX century. Lima the Capital of Peru was the principal city of Hispanic América. It was founded by Conqueror Francisco Pizarro and today one can still admire the splendor of its early days through many architectural monuments.

Lima was honored to be the first South American city to boast a theater which  was founded in 1563. Also the first print shop, whose early works saw the light of day in 1595. The Inquisition was introduced in 1570 and was not abolished until 1813.

During the XVII and early centuries there were very few cities in the Old World that could compete with Lima in Luxury and wealth until the violent earthquake  of 1746 destroyed practically the whole city leaving only a total of twenty standing houses.

The recent transformation of Lima into a modern metropolis is due largely to the introduction of large industries located in the outlying areas of the city.

The heart of Lima still retains the flavor of yesteryear. Only one block away from the River Rimac we find the main Square (Plaza de Armas), the railway station of "Desamparados", the cathedral, The Palace of the Archbishopric, City Hall and the Club de la Unión"

This square and Plaza de Armas are joined by the main avenue Jirón de la Unión, a famous walkway overflowing with commercial activity and still today one of the principal commercial centers to be found in the city  for its large variety of stores.

Moving away from the center of the city, a fasttraffic drive called " El Zanjon" wil take us to the Southern districts in only a few minutes.

Most notorious are San Isidro, for its recent commercial development which has transformed the old residential panorama into an attractive "pastiche" of fine stores, boutiques and restaurants. Only a few minutes away we soon arrive at Miraflores, today as in the past the most important commercial center of the city.

Other districts like Barranco and Chorrillos offer us their attractive sea shore vistas of the Capital City as well as their antique walkways and boulevards that will strike us for the charm and flavor that still evoke the old traditions and colonial flair of Lima.