Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LIMA
01 / POP 8.5 MILLION / ELEV 108M
History
In pre-Hispanic times, the area now occupied by this expansive metropolis had been an im-
portant coastal settlement to various cultures, including the Lima, the Wari and the Ichsma.
In fact, when Francisco Pizarro sketched out the boundaries of his 'City of Kings' in 1535,
there were roughly 200,000 indigenous people living in the area. But by the 18th century,
the Spaniards had turned Lima into the capital of a continent-wide viceroyalty, where fleets
of ships arrived to transport the conquest's spoils back to Europe.
In the late 19th century, the city found itself under siege when it was occupied by the
Chilean military during the war of the Pacific (1879-83). A period of expansion followed
in the early 20th century, during which time a network of broad boulevards (inspired by
Parisian urban design) were constructed to crisscross the city.
Since then, it has endured earthquakes, population growth and, in the '80s, bouts of guer-
rilla warfare due to the Internal Conflict. But the last decade has seen an unparalleled re-
birth. A robust economy and a vast array of municipal improvement efforts have led to re-
paved streets, refurbished parks, and safer public areas - not to mention a thriving cultural
and culinary life.
Sights
The city's colonial heart, Lima Centro (Central Lima), lies at a bend on the Río Rímac.
From here, Av Arequipa, one of Lima's principal thoroughfares, plunges southeast, through
San Isidro, into Miraflores. Immediately to the south lies Barranco.
