Lima is full of surprises within its layers upon layers of rich history. Situated on the coast of the Pacific and being one of the largest desert towns in the world, the contrasts of the city are striking. Near the shantytowns that resemble a third world country are modern skyscrapers and shopping malls, beautifully restored colonial mansions dating back to the 17th century, and pre-Inca pyramids that survived the Spanish conquest and modern civilization. The city has a lot to offer the visitor, who usually only stays a short time en route to other excursions in Peru. Either way, Lima, the longtime capital of empires of long ago, has its own identity that can be felt on every stone and building constructed.

Just a quick stroll through the Plaza de Armas, the central plaza, and you'll see a few important sights: the Palacio de Gobierno, which is the president's residence, and the elaborate balconies of what used to be the Archbishop's Palace. Lima also has some gorgeous cathedrals, such as the Catedral de Lima, which holds the remains of Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador who defeated the Incas and founded Lima for Spain.

Lima has many interesting museums that cover every part of its history, including the Inquisition Museum, where you can tour the basement where the torturing took place. The Museo de Arte de Lima has one of the most important collections of Peruvian art, which spans 400 years. The Italian Museum also has an interesting collection thrown into Lima's melting pot. The museum has collections of Italian and European art, sculptures, and prints.

The Lima lodging guide details the best of the five star luxury hotels as well as the 4 class value hotels. Lima has several neighborhoods that are popular places to stay, such as Miraflores, Central Lima, and Barranco.

Just an hour's drive from Lima are several sights worth checking out, including the ruins of Pachacamac of the Wari and Incas, the lovely southern beaches as an escape from the bustling city, and the 2000 recently discovered mummies at the Puruchuco site. Also just outside the city are the ruins of Cajamarquilla, which is one of the largest archeological monuments in Peru.

Miraflores is a great neighborhood to sample the internationally recognized dishes by Lima's award winning chefs. Also a great neighborhood for club and bar hopping is Barranco. Just steps away from any bar or club you'll find many live music venues, modern night clubs packed with people dancing, and scores of bars serving up cheap Peruvian refreshments.

Map of Lima

Please click on the region for a more detailed map of the area.

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Lima

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