When planning a holiday in Peru, many people stress that they are keen to “get out of Lima as quickly as possible” but while historically Lima has had a bad press, and while it may not be the most beautiful or the most easy city in Peru, you certainly aren’t short of things to see and do and the place has a real buzz about it. Indeed, for many people, Lima ends up being a real highlight of their Peru holiday.
Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro himself and became known as the “City of Kings”. From the early colonial period until the colonies won their independence, Lima was the capital of Spanish South America. The city was famous for its wealth and beauty and it rivalled most European cities for its cultural life. Unfortunately, the city was destroyed in a horrendous earthquake in 1746, with only 20 of the original 3,000 houses left standing. Although the city was entirely rebuilt, the new buildings were often more functional than before and what was undoubtedly one of the world’s great cities has almost entirely disappeared.
Today, Lima is a big, bustling city of about 8 million people and is a city of contrasts. It...