cheap flights to Lima

Lima

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaside city of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima Metropolitan Area. With a population of over 11 million in its metropolitan area, Lima is one of the largest cities in the Americas. Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 on the site of a pre-Inca settlement. It quickly became the most important city in Spanish South America, and its wealth and power attracted settlers from all over the continent. The city's colonial architecture is evident in its many churches, monasteries, and palaces. In the 19th century, Lima lost its political and economic dominance to other South American cities, but it remained an important cultural and intellectual centre. In recent decades, Lima has undergone a period of rapid economic growth, and it is now a major tourist destination.