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| Lima | |||
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| Nickname(s): City of the Kings | |||
| Motto: Hoc signum vere regum est | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Peru | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Lima Region | ||
| Province | Lima Province | ||
| Districts | 43 districts | ||
| Settled | January 18, 1535 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Municipal Province | Metropolitan Municipality of Lima | ||
| - Provincal Council | Provincial Council of Lima | ||
| - Mayor | Luis Castañeda Lossio | ||
| - HQ | Municipal Palace of Lima | ||
| - Congress | 35 congressional seats | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 2,672.3 km² (1,031.8 sq mi) | ||
| - Urban | 800 km² (308.9 sq mi) | ||
| - Metro | 2,819.3 km² (1,088.5 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 0 - 1,548 m (0 - 5,079 ft) | ||
| Population (2007)1 | |||
| - City | 7,605,742 | ||
| - Metro | 8,472,935 | ||
| - Metro Density | 3,008.8/km² (7,792.8/sq mi) | ||
| - Demonym | Limeño/a | ||
| Time zone | PET (UTC-5) | ||
| Website: www.munlima.gob.pe | |||
Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, on a coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It forms a contiguous urban area with the seaport of Callao.
Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as La Ciudad de los Reyes, or "The City of Kings." It became the most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru and, after the Peruvian War of Independence, was made the capital of the Republic of Peru. Today around one-third of the Peruvian population lives in the metropolitan area.
Contents |
Etymology
The first name of the city was the City of the Kings (Spanish: Ciudad de los Reyes) because its foundation was decided on January 6, date of the feast of the Epiphany. However, this quickly fell into disuse, as "Lima" became the capital's name of choice. It is uncertain where this name originated; it may derive from Quechuan rimaq (talking), pronounced IPA: ['li-ma:] in the ancient local Quechua I variety. It is worth noting that the river that feeds Lima is still called Rimac, closer to the Quechua II pronunciation for "Talking river". Many speculate that the Spanish produced "Lima" in trying to reproduce what in fact was "Rimac," which they heard from local inhabitants. On the oldest Spanish maps of Peru, both Lima and Ciudad de los Reyes can be seen together as names for the city.
History
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Pre-hispanic era
Although Lima was not founded until 1535 by the Spanish, several pre-Incan settlements were established in the Rimac, Chillon and Lurin river valleys. Their inhabitants would later go on to build ceremonial centers, known as huacas2, many of which are still preserved throughout the city. The Chavín culture which was based in Ancash, also had a strong influence over this region during that time period. 3
The Maranga Culture and the Lima culture also established themselves in this area. 4Many temples were built during this time period examples of this being Lati, and Pachacamac. These cultures were conquered by the Wari Empire, at it's greatest point of expansion. 5 The ceremonial complex of Cajamarquilla was also constructed at this time. As the Wari Empire weakened, local tribes began to achieve autonomy and the Chancay culture developed. Shortly after, the area was annexed by the Inca Empire.6
Colonial era
The city of Lima was founded by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535 as the Muy Noble, Muy Insigne y Muy Leal Ciudad De Los Reyes Del Perú7 or The Very Noble, Very Distinguished, Very Loyal City of Kings of Peru. In some of the earliest maps of Peru the city is jointly labeled Lima and the City of Kings. 8
Lima became the capital of all Spanish possessions in South America, which were named New Castile. 9In 1537, the King of Spain bestowed upon the city its coat of arms. 10Lima the stronghold of Spanish military forces11. Soon after foundation of the city, a constant influx of European colonists ensued as well as a power struggle between Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro which resulted in both of their deaths. Almagro was ordered executed by Pizarro and Pizarro was assassinated by Almagro's son. Pizarro and Almagro originally were associated in the conquest and colonization of Peru but eventually turned against each other in a struggle for power. 12
In 1542, the Real Audiencia of Lima was created and the city was named the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru. 13 Subsuquently, Blasco Núñez Vela, was named the first Viceroy of Peru and was given the responsibility to pacify Peru from indigenous rebellions. 14 In 1545, Lima was granted a diocese which maintained religious authority over the entire Viceroyalty which at that time encompassed all of South America except for Brazil. 15
The transferring of the wealth of the Incan Empire through Lima to the port Callao transformed Lima into a prosperous and ostentatious city. 16 The social caste system in Lima was reflective of the social situation experienced throughout the entire Viceroyalty. At the top of the social strata were the Spain-born Spanish known as Peninsulares. Following the peninsulares were the offspring and descendants of Peninsulares known as Criollos or creoles. Creoles were solely of Spanish ancestry however born in Peru. Creoles did not have the right to hold public office or participate in any sort of government as did the Peninsulares. Below the creoles lied the mestizos, or Peruvians born of mixed Spanish and indigenous ancestry. Amerindians and Africans lied at the bottom of the social strata with Africans being under the condition of slavery and Amerindians who were treated similarly to slaves for the duration of the colonial period.17 Immigration from other non-Spanish European countries to Peru was prohibited during the
colonial era and did not begin until after independence. 18
On May 12, 1551, San Marcos University was created and classes began on January 2, 1553 in the Covenant of Santo Domingo. It was the first university to be opened in the Americas.
The first auto de fe of the Inquisition in Peru took place in Lima's Plaza de Armas on November 15, 1573. Of these, there were 27 in the history of the Viceroyalty, of which Lima was the principal headquarters. Lima was also the principal headquarters out of the three seats of the Spanish Inquisition in the Americas the other two being Mexico and Cartagena de Indias.
The city, being located in a seismic area, has suffered from many earthquakes in its long history. The first recorded earthquake in the city occurred in 1582, with later earthquakes occurring in 1586, 1609, 1630, 1655, 1687, 1694, 1699, 1716, 1725, 1732, 1734, and 1743. 19
The city flourished during the 17th century as the center of an extensive trade network which extended as far as Europe and the Philippines.20 A constant danger to the city's commerce was the presence of pirates and privateers in the Pacific Ocean. To protect the city against them, Viceroy Melchor de Navarra y Rocafull built a wall around it between 1684 and 1687. In the 18th century, Lima had to be rebuilt after being almost completely destroyed by an earthquake on October 28, 1746. This natural disaster led to the appearance of an intense devotion for the Lord of Miracles, which has endured until today.
It's urban development was characterized by the construction of churches, cathedrals, public buildings, and houses. The Plaza de Acho Bullring and the Avenue of Water were both constructed during the government of the Viceroy Manuel de Amat y Juniet and still exist to this day. 21
At the beginnings of the 19th century, despite the development of other Latin American cities, Lima still retained its place as South America's most important city and the city where the Spanish Empire maintained its strongest prescence. 22
Republican era
Following the Peruvian War of Independence, in 1821, Jose de San Martin, entered Lima and proclaimed the independence of Peru, establishing Lima as the new capital of the nation. Lima was the seat of the First Contituent Congress of Peru formed in 1822. 23
The initial years of Peru's post-independence history were characterized by the constant struggle for power between military caudillos, who in attempts to assume power over the country, attempted to take Lima. Due to this, Lima was home to many military conflicts within its city limits. 24
From 1845-1950, Lima was the destination for thousands of immigrants from a wide variety of countries. 25 The Guano era in the early 1800's increased the influx of immigrants, primarily from Europe, who settled in Lima. The Spanish Civil War in the 1930's saw relatively large-scale immigration of political dissentients from Spain to Lima. 26In the 1800's, Chinese immigrants arrived to haciendas south of Lima to work in the fields. These immigrants eventually would all move to the city of Lima, primarily settling in Capon, an section of downtown Lima. 27The first Japanese immigrants arrived in Lima in 1892 and kept on arriving into the 1920's.28 In the 19th and 20th centuries thousands of Italians, Spaniards, Germans, Jews, British, French, Central European, and Eastern European immigrants traveled from Europe to the port of Callao to settle in Lima. 2930
From an urban point of view, the constant growth that the city experienced led to modernization. The process of changing the Nomenclature of the downtown area was initiated in 1862 and in 1868, on the orders of President Jose Balta, the Lima City Walls which surrounded the city were demolished giving way to large tree-lined avenues allowing for the expansion of the city past it's antiquated boundaries. The modernization was suspended during the War of the Pacific and resumed in the 20th century. 31
In 1881, during the War of the Pacific, the city was invaded by the Chilean Army. The invasion by the Chilean Army resulted in the sacking and destruction of various areas of the city such as the Chorrillos District. 32
After the Chilean retreat from the city, Lima initiated a process of reconstruction, which was again delayed by the conflict between Andrés Avelino Cáceres and Nicolás de Piérola33. In the final years of the 19th century, with Pierola assuming power, and the beginning of the time period known as the Aristocratic Republic, Lima began it's definitive and intense construction boom which lasted until the presidency of Augusto B. Leguía who prepared the nation for its centennial anniversary in 1921. Many of the main republican buildings date from this era examples being, the Museum of Art, the Museum of Italian Art, Colon Avenue, the Park of the Exposition and the Park of the Reserve. 34
At the beginning of the 20th Century Lima still had a small population and the nation's largest city was Trujillo. At this time suburbs began to develop along the city's Pacific coast such as Miraflores and Barranco. New avenues were built which eventually would become the main arteries of Lima's transportation network. 35
The 1930's brought large-scale remodeling and construction projects with the remodeling of the Government Palace and the City Hall. This construction boom lasted until the 1950's with the construction of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Education, Superior Court of Lima, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Health, Worker Safety Hospitals, the National Stadium, and large-scale public housing. 36
Mass immigration occurred during this time period greatly increasing the city's population. Most of these immigrants settled in the then surban districts of Lince, La Victoria, Breña, Pueblo Libre District, El Agustino, Ate, San Juan de Luringancho, San Martín de Porres and Comas. Most of these immigrants originated from rural areas in the Andean highlands. As an emblematic symbol of this expansion, in 1976 the district of Villa el Salvador was created, located thirty kilometers south of downtown Lima. 37
In the 1980's terrorism in parts of the country's interior resulted in the unorderly growth of the city as internally displaced refugees arrived in Lima creating new, unregulated suburbs known as Pueblos jóvenes. 38In 1992, Abimael Guzmán leader of the Shining Path terrorist organization was captured in the Lima suburb of Santiago de Surco. Subsequently, terrorist activities in Lima were mostly eliminated as well as throughout the country. 39
As of 2007 Lima and the contiguous city of Callao, with which it forms a metropolitan area, was home to 8,472,935 inhabitants. Efforts are underway for the complete restoration of the Historic Center of Lima, which in 1991 was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. A transportation system overhaul is being undergone with a city government street repaving campaign, a bus system, a mass transit system known as the Lima Metro, the renovation of the Jorge Chavez International Airport, freeway building, and road infrastructure improvement. Other recent public works projects have taken place in Lima including, the illumination of the buildings of the Historic Center of Lima, remodeling of most major parks and green spaces, construction of new parks, urban renewal along the Rimac River, new hospitals in pueblos jovenes, repavement of Lima's sidewalks, and the construction of the largest water fountain complex in the world. 40
| Evolution of the Lima Metropolitan Area | ||||
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| 1910 | 1940 | 1970 | 1995 | |
Government
National government
Lima is the capital city of the Republic of Peru and the department of Lima. As such, it is home to the three branches of the Government of Peru. The executive branch is headquartered in the Government Palace, located in the Plaza Mayor. The legislative branch is headquartered in the Legislative Palace and is home to the Congress of Peru. The Judicial branch is headquartered in the Palace of Justice and is home to the Supreme Court of Peru.
Likewise, all the ministries are located in the city of Lima. In international government, the city of Lima is home to the headquarters of the Andean Community of Nations and the South American Community of Nations, along with other regional and international organizations.
Local government
The city is roughly equivalent to the Province of Lima, which is subdivided into 43 districts. The Metropolitan Municipality of Lima is utmost authority of the entire city while each district further has it's own local government. These local governments are under the authority of the Metropolitan Municipality
Political status
Unlike the rest of the country, the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, although a provincial municipality, acts as and has functions similar to a regional government, due to that it does not belong to any of the 25 regions of Peru.
Nonetheless, it maintains it's previous status as part of the Lima Region as it still has certain authority over that region. This authority however, is primarily related only to political and military matters. The administration of the city itself is still dependant on the local municipality itself.
Judicial system
Lima is the seat of the Superior Court of Justice of Lima belonging to the Judicial District of Lima. Due to the judicial organization of Peru, the highest concentration of courts are located in Lima despite the fact that it's judicial district only has jurisdiction over 35 of the 43 districts of Lima.41
Likewise, the Superior Court of the Cono Norte, belonging to the Judicial District of Cono Norte, is made up of: 42
Geography
The urban area of Lima covers about 800 km². It is located on mostly flat terrain in the Peruvian coastal plain, within the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers. The city slopes gently from the shores of the Pacific Ocean into valleys and mountain slopes located as high as 500 meters above mean sea level. Within the city exist isolated hills which are not connected to the surrounding hill chains, such as El Agustino, San Cosme, El Pino, La Milla, Muleria and Pro hills. The San Cristobal hill in the Rimac district, which faces directly north of the downtown area, is the local extreme of an Andean hill outgrowth.
Metropolitan Lima has an area of 2672.28 km², of which 825.88 km² (31%) comprise the actual city and 1846.40 km² (69%) the city outskirts.citation needed The urban area extends around 60 km from north to south and around 30 km from west to east. The city center is located 15 km inland at the shore of the Rimac river, a vital resource for the city, since it carries what will become drinking water for its inhabitants and fuels the hydro electrical dams that provide electricity to the area. While no official administrative definition for the city exists, it is usually considered to be composed of the central 30 out of the 43 districts of Lima Province, corresponding to an urban area centered around the historic Cercado de Lima district.citation needed The city is the core of the Lima Metropolitan Area, one of the ten largest metropolitan areas in the Americas. Lima is the second largest city in the world located in a desert, after Cairo, Egypt.
Climate
Lima's climate is quite mild, despite being located in the Tropics. Lima has a subtropical and desert climate, yet the microclimate also makes it very humid throughout the year. The temperatures vary from mild to warm (neither very cold or hot).The average temperature in winter ranges from 13 °C to 20 °C.43 These days usually come accompanied by continuous overcast skies, fog, and mist.citation needed In the summer, the high averages around 28 °C with lows around 19 °C. 43 During El Niño events, the climate of Lima gets severely disrupted, the water temperatures along the coast which usually average around 17 - 19 °C (65 - 68 °F) get much warmer, (as in 1998 when the water temperature reached 26 °C (79 °F)) which causes the high and low temperatures to rise by several degrees. Such was the case when Lima hit its all-time record high of 34 °C 43
Relative humidity is always very high particularly in the mornings 43 , and produces brief morning fog from June to December and persistent low clouds from May to November. Sunny, less moist and warm summers follow from December to April and are followed by cloudy, damp and cool winters (June to October). The all-time record low in the metropolitan area is 9 °C. 43
Rainfall is very low. The severely low rainfall impacts on water supply in the city. 44 Inland locations receive 1 to 6 cm of rainfall, which accumulates mainly during the winter months. Summer rain occurs in the form of isolated light and brief afternoon or evening events, leftover from afternoon storms that generate over the Andes. The peak of the 'rainy season,' which does not produce "rain" in the true sense of the word, occurs during winter when late-night/morning drizzle events (locally called 'garúa','llovizna' or 'camanchacas') become frequent, leaving a light coating of dampness on the ground. All these climatic phenomena arise from the combination of semi-permanent coastal upwelling and the presence of the cold Humboldt Current just offshore.
 Weather averages for Lima, Peru  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
24 (75) |
22 (72) |
20 (68) |
19 (66) |
18 (64) |
19 (66) |
20 (68) |
22 (72) |
24 (75) |
22 (72) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 20 (68) |
20 (68) |
20 (68) |
18 (64) |
17 (63) |
16 (61) |
15 (59) |
15 (59) |
15 (59) |
16 (61) |
17 (63) |
18 (64) |
17 (63) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.5 (0.1) |
5 (0.2) |
2.5 (0.1) |
2.5 (0.1) |
2.5 (0.1) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
7.5 (0.3) |
| Source: Weatherbase45 Nov 2007 | |||||||||||||
Demographics
Lima ranks as the nineteenth most populous city in the worldcitation needed with a population of 7,605,742 for the city area, 8,472,935 for the metropolitan area and a population density of 3008.8 as of 2007.1 Its population features a very complex mix of racial and ethnic groups. Traditionally, Mestizos of mixed European (mostly Spanish) and Amerindian descent are the largest contingent. The second group has its origins in Europe, the biggest being people of Spanish descent, followed by significant numbers of Italians, Germans, French, English, Polish and Eastern Europeans.citation needed Also there is a large number of Jews, and Middle Easterners. Asians make up a large number of the metropolitan population, especially of Chinese (Cantonese) and Japanese descent. Afro-Peruvians, whose African ancestors were initially brought to the region as slaves, are yet another part of the city's ethnic quilt. Lima has by far the largest Chinese community in Latin America.citation needed
The demographics of the city are as follows:citation needed
62% Mestizo (mixed European and Indian ancestry)
30% White European
-65% Spanish
-35% German, Italian, French and other European ancestry
6% Asian
2% Black
The first settlement in what would become Lima was made up of only 117 housing blocks. In 1562, another district was built at the other side of the Rimac River and in 1610, the first stone bridge was built. Lima had, at this point in time, around 1600 inhabitants. In 1861, the amount of inhabitants surpassed 100,000, and by 1927 this amount was doubled.citation needed
During the early twenty century thousands of immigrants came to the city, a significant number of French, Italians and Germans, many of them had been adapting to the Peruvian society. They organized in social clubs, and they built their own schools; for example, The American-Peruvian school which is located in Miraflores, The French Alliance (Alianza Francesa de Lima) and the hospital Maison de Sante, the British-Peruvian school in Monterrico, and also several German-Peruvian schools.
They also influenced Peruvian cuisine, the Italians in particular exerting a strong influence in the Miraflores and San Isidro areas with their restaurants, called Trattorias.citation needed
A great number of Chinese immigrants, and a lesser amount of Japanese, came to Lima and established themselves in the Barrios Altos neighborhood near downtown Lima, coming in order to work on farms and domestic services.citation needed Lima residents refer to their Chinatown as "Calle Capon," and the city's ubiquitous Chifa restaurants – a small, sit-down, usually Chinese-run restaurant serving the Peruvian spin on Chinese cuisine – can be found by the dozen in this Chinese enclave.
The 1950s saw the exponential increase of the city inhabitants, most of them Andean immigrants and their descendants, who settled in the northern and southern outskirts.
citation needed The political and economic instability in Peru during the latter half of the twentieth century created unprecedented poverty and violence in the towns of the countryside or Andean highlands, forcing hundreds of thousands of peasants of Amerindian descent to migrate to Lima – thus greatly augmenting Lima's population.47 In the 70’s, the lacking transportation facilities for the newcomers who had to travel for hours on end to reach the city center became a problem, and it was decided that Lima should not expand any further.
Unlike other ethnic groups in Lima who speak only Spanish, most of the peasant population that migrated to Lima speaks primarily Quechua or Aymara, rather than Spanish. While a number of Amerindians eventually attain middle class status, others still live in shantytowns, known locally as pueblos jóvenes (young towns). These areas often lack such basic services as electricity and running water.citation needed
Most of the residents of Lima are of the Roman Catholic faith however there are also adherents of Judaism, Protestantism, and Islam. In addition, Lima has a growing population of atheists. Roman Catholics make up 81% of the population.48
Economy
Lima is the industrial and financial center of Peru49. It contains more than two thirds of its industrial production50 and most of its tertiary sector, and is home to many national companies.
The Metropolitan area, with around 7000 factories 51, spearheads the industrial development of the country, thanks to the quantity and quality of the available workforce, cheap infrastructure and the mostly developed routes and highways in the city. The most relevant industrial sectors are textiles, clothing and food. Chemicals, fish, leather and oil derivatives are also manufactured and/or processed in Lima52. The financial district is located in the district of San Isidro, while much of the industrial activity takes place in the area stretching west of Downtown Lima to the airport in Callao.
Industrialization began to take hold in Lima in the 1930's and by the 1950's, through import substitution policies, by 1950 manufacturing made up 14% of he GNP. In the late 1950's, up to 70% of consumer goods were manufactured in Peruvian, and primarily Limean, factories. 53
The Callao seaport is one of the main fishing and commerce ports in South America, with 75% of the country's imports and 25% of its exports 54 using it as their entry/departure point. The main export goods leaving the country through Callao are oil, steel, silver, zinc, cotton, sugar and coffee.
In 2004, Lima's GDP represented 45% of the country's GDP (5% more than the previous year). The GDP per capita in Lima is $7,60055. Most of the foreign companies operating in the country have settled in Lima, which has led to the previously mentioned concentration of economic and financial activity on the city.
There has been a noticeable increase in slight industries, services and high technologies. In 2007, the Peruvian economy grew 9%, the largest growth rate in all of South America which was spearheaded by economic policies originating in Lima.56.The Lima Stock Exchange grew 185.24% in 2006 57 and in 2007 grew 168.3% 58 making it one of the fastest growing stock exchanges in the world. In 2006, the Lima Stock Exchange was the most profitable in the world.59 The unemployment rate in metropolitan area is 7.2%.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and the Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union Summit were hosted by the city of Lima.
Lima is headquarters to many major banks such as Banco de Crédito del Perú, Interbank, Bank of the Nation, Banco Continental, Banco Interamericano de Finanzas, Banco Finaciero, Banco de Comercio, MiBanco, and Banco del Trabajo. It is also a regional headquarters to Scotiabank, HSBC, Citibank, Santander, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Chase. Major insurance coorperations based in Lima include Rimac Seguros, Mapfre Peru, Interseguro, Pacifico, Protecta, and La Positiva.60
Cityscape
Architecture
Lima's architecture is characterized by a mix in styles as reflected from shifts between trends throughout various time periods of the city's history. Examples of early colonial architecture include such structures as the Monestary of San Francisco, the Cathedral of Lima and the Torre Tagle Palace. These constructions are generally influenced by the Spanish baroque, 61 Spanish Neoclassicism,62 and Spanish Colonial 63 styles. After independence, a gradual shift towards the neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles took place. Many of these constructions were greatly influenced by French architectural styles.64Many government buildings as well as major cultural institutions were contracted in this architectural time period. During the 1960's, constructions utilizing the brutalist style began appearing in Lima due to the military government of Juan Velasco. 65 Examples of this architecture are the Museum of the Nation and the Ministry of Defense. The 21st century has seen the appearance of glass skyscrapers particularly around the city's financial district. 66
Lima's urban setting is characterized by green-lined streets as well as the abundance of plazas throughout the city. More important streets usually contain wider green areas and plaza's usually contain monuments or statues of historical figures of importance to Peruvian history.
Parks and gardens
The largest parks of Lima are located near the downtown area such as the Park of the Reserve, Park of the Exposition, 67 Campo de Marte, and the University Park. The Park of the Reserve is home to the largest fountain complex in the world known as the Magical Circuit of Water. 68
A number of large parks lie outside the city center, including Reducto Park, Pantanos de Villa, The Golf, Park of the Legends, the malecon of Miraflores, and the Golf of the Incas. 69The street grid of the city of Lima, is laid out with a system of plazas of which serve a purpose similar to roundabouts or junctions. In addition to this practical purpose, plazas serve as one of Lima's principal green spaces and contain a variety of different types of architecture ranging from monuments to statues, and water fountains. 70
Society and Culture
Strongly influenced by European, Andean, and Asian culture, Lima is a melting pot of cultures due to colonization, immigration, and indigenous influences. 71 Like many other world capitals, Lima is home to prestigious museums many of which are world renown. The Historic Center of Lima was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Limean gastronomy is known to be among the best in the world and the city is known as the Gastronomical Capital of the Americas. Lima's gastronomy is a mix of Spanish, Andean, and Asian culinary traditions. 72
Lima's beaches, located along the northern and southern ends of the city, are heavily visited during the summer months. Numerous restaurants, clubs and hotels have been opened in these places to serve the many beachgoers. Lima has a vibrant and active theater scene as there are many theaters presenting not only classic theater, but also
cultural presentations, modern theater, experimental theater, dramas, dance performances, and theater for children. Lima is home to many important theaters such as the Municipal Theater, Segura Theater, Japanese-Peruvian Theater, Marsano Theater, British theater, Theater of the PUCP Cultural Center, and the Yuyachkani Theater. 73
Language
Known as Peruvian Coastal Spanish, Lima's Spanish is characterized by
the lack of strong innotations as found in many other regions of the Spanish-speaking world. It is heavily influenced by the Spanish spoken in Castile as throughout the colonial era, the colonial Spanish nobility was based in Lima, of which most originated from Castile. 74 Limean Spanish is also characterized by the lack of voseo, a trait present in the dialects of many other Latin American countries. This is due to that voseo was primarily utilized by the lower socioeconomic classes of Spain, a social group that did not begin to appear in Lima until the late colonial era. Limean Spanish is often distinguished by its relative clarity
in comparison to other Latin American dialects. Limean Spanish has been influenced by a number of immigrant groups including Italians, Andalusians, Chinese and Japanese. It also has been influenced by anglicisms as a result of globalization as well as by Andean Spanish due to recent immigration from the Andean highlands to Lima.75
Museums
Lima is home to the highest concentration of museums of the country, the most notable of which being the Museo Nacional de Arqueología Antropología e Historia del Perú, Museum of Art of Lima, the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the Nation, the Museum of Italian Art, and the Museum of Gold, and the Larco Museum. These museums mostly focus on art, pre-Colombian cultures, natural history, science, and religion. 76
Tourism
| Historic Centre of Lima* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
 |
|
| State Party |  Peru |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iv |
| Reference | 500 |
| Region** | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1988 (12th Session) |
| Extensions | 1991 |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. |
|
Lima, as the point of entry to the country, has developed an important tourism industry, characterized by it's historic center, archeological sites, nightlife, museums, art galleries, festivals, and popular traditions. Lima is home to an ample range of restaurants and bars where local as well as international cuisine is served. 77
The Historic Center of Lima, made up of the districts of Lima and Rimac, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988 due to its importance during the colonial era leaving a testimony to architectural achievement. 78 Some examples of this historical colonial architecture include the Monastery of San Francisco, the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, Covenant of Santo Domingo, the Palace of Torre Tagle, and much more.
A tour of the city's churches is a popular circuit among tourists. A short jaunt through the central district goes through many churches dating from as early as the 16th and 17th centuries the most noteworthy of which being the Cathedral of Lima and the Monastery of San Francisco, of which are said to be connected by their subterrestrial catacombs. 79Both of these churches contain paintings from various schools of art, Sevilian tile, and finely sculpted wood furnishings. Also notable is the Sanctuary of Las Nazarenas, the point of origin for the Lord of Miracles, whose festivities in the month of October constitute the most important religious event in Lima and arguably all of Peru. Some sections of the Lima City Walls still remain and are frequented by tourists. These examples of medieval Spanish fortifications were utilized to defend the city from attacks by pirates and privateers. 80
Beaches are visited during the summer months, which are located along the Pan-American Highway, to the south of the city in districts such as Lurin, Punta Hermosa, San Bartolo and Asia. Many restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, bars, clubs, and hotels have developed in said places to cater to beachgoers. 81
The suburban districts of Cieneguilla, Pachacamac, and the city of Chosica, are important tourist attractions among locals as they are located at a higher elevation than Lima therefore receiving sunshine in winter months, something that the city of Lima frequently lacks.82
Gastronomy
Lima is known as Gastronomical Capital of the Americas. A center of immigration and the center of the Spanish Viceroyalty, Lima has incorporated unique dishes brought from the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors and the receiving of many waves of immigrants: African, European, Chinese, and Japanese. 83 Besides international immigration—a large portion of which happened in Lima—there has been, since the second half of the 20th century, a strong internal flow from rural areas to cities, in particular to Lima. 84This has strongly influenced Lima's cuisine with the incorporation of the immigrant's ingredients and techniques (for example, the Chinese extensive use of rice or the Japanese approach to preparing raw fish). The genres of restaurants in Lima include Creole food, Chifas, Cebicherias, and Pollerias. Peruvian cuisine, widely represented in Lima, holds various holds various Guinness World Records, for its diversity and quality.
Sports
| Club | Sport | League | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alianza Lima | Football | Primera División Peruana | Alejandro Villanueva Stadium |
| Sporting Cristal | Football |