The capital of Peru sits on the Pacific coast and enjoys a humid climate. Tucked away in between its working-class neighbourhoods and business districts are the remains of colonial architecture, dating back to the founding of the city in the 16thcentury by the Spanish.

Unlike La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, located at an altitude of more than 3 000 metres, Lima is on the Pacific coast at the mouth of River Rimac. Its climate is therefore frequently humid and it is cloaked in mist or cloud. It was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro and is, today, a major metropolis. Including its suburbs, it is home to more than 9 million inhabitants, almost a third of the population of Peru. The city stretches out in tentacular fashion and has been rebuilt following earthquakes. It therefore bears no resemblance now to the city at the time of Spanish occupation. And yet its centre has preserved remains from that era, or is modelled after them. The Plaza de Armas is flanked by the cathedral and several neo-colonial buildings, such as the Government Palace, the Municipalidad and the Archbishop’s Palace. Close by, there are older buildings still: the House of Oidor, the House of Aliaga, Monastery of San Francisco, Church of San Pedro, Cloisters of Santo Domingo and Torre Tagle Palace, from the beginning of the 18th century. The Rimac District, on the other side of the river, albeit run down, still bears the vestiges of its Spanish colonial aristocracy, with its Paseo de Aguas, a former chic boulevard and its bullfighting ring (1766), the oldest on the continent. While the two central arteries, Unión and Colmena, are still busy thoroughfares, activity has also moved farther south to the Miraflores District. This is the economic heart of the capital, with its office blocks and international brand names. Farther to the east, Monterrico is home to the wealthy, with its very upscale residences. As a finishing touch to your visit to Lima, two other areas remain to be explored: to the west of the city, the fishing port of Callao has conserved some splendid colonial houses; to the south, Barranco is now a fashionable district, with its party venues and trendy boutiques.