Travel Eye on Lima (Peru)

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Overview:

Built on the banks of the Rio Rimac, Lima is Peru's largest city and its capital.

Founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro, Lima was used as the headquarters of the Spanish conquistadors, ideally located because of the surrounding fertile planes irrigated by the Rimac and its close proximity to the natural port at Callao.

Lima soon became the commercial and administrative center of the Spanish empire in South America, bringing a period of prosperity to the city until an earthquake in 1746 destroyed all but 20 houses. Following this devastation the opportunity was taken to elaborately rebuild the city.

Today's wide streets, huge plazas and old houses with ornately carved balconies are a legacy of this period.

Downtown Lima is distinctly Spanish with a colonial feel. The streets follow a checkerboard pattern surrounding the Plaza de Armas, flanked by the Palacio de Gobierno, the cathedral and other important buildings.

Street names can be confusing here due to a mixture of old and new names. The pedestrian thoroughfare Jiron de la Union contains many shops and is a good place to wander. There are some parks and gardens towards the southern end of downtown surrounding Plaza Grau.

The most pleasant downtown places are those around the major plazas (Plaza de Arms, Plaza San Martín, Parque Universitario and Parque Italiano). These places have striking buildings and are quite safe during business hours due to a large police presence.

Locality:

Lima is a vast polluted metropolis situated in the middle of Peru's desert coastline,

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to:

La Catedral - When this cathedral was originally constructed in 1555, it was considered too small and had to be rebuilt. It was badly damaged in the 1687 earthquakes and was almost totally destroyed by them in 1746. The church has interesting woodcarvings in the choir stalls and the altars are finely covered with silver.

Museo de Oro del Peru - The Museo de Oro del Peru is actually two museums rolled into one. Its massive Gold Museum has thousands of gold pieces, each uniquely sculptured into something different, from ear plugs to clothing decorations.

Plaza de Armas - One of the best things about travelling around Peru is to experience daily Peruvian life, which revolves around its plazas (squares). Lima's plazas are no exception.

San Francisco Church - The San Francisco church and monastery is known for its stunning baroque architecture and catacombs.

If the polluted waterways in Lima itself deter you from swimming (the best beaches are found south of Lima), you can go diving . Sailboat rides to nearby islands are reasonably popular and if you've been indulging in Lima's cafe and restaurant scene a bit too much, there are tennis and golf clubs to help burn off that extra girth.

If the slower paced activity of retail therapy seems more your style, then Lima has a plethora of shopping malls, boutique stores and markets just waiting to tear you from your hard earned cash.