Lima

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, located on the country’s central Pacific coast. The city has a population estimated at 10,481,890 inhabitants (2026 estimate). Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and quickly became the political, economic, and cultural center of Spanish South America. During the colonial period it served as the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, one of the most important administrative regions of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.

Today Lima is the country’s main financial and cultural hub, blending colonial heritage with modern urban development. The historic center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains numerous landmarks such as the Plaza Mayor, the Lima Cathedral, and the coastal cliffs of Miraflores overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Lima has also produced many notable cultural and sporting figures, including the writer Isabel Allende, the acclaimed singer Eva Ayllón, and footballer João Grimaldo.