LimaLima, once known as the city of the kings, dates from 1535, at which time it was the most important in the Spanish empire. It's location in a desert overlooking the Pacific Ocean means Lima receives little rain. Today, the capital of Peru is a mixture of old world grandeur and new world hustle. The colonial plazas, museums, historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural interests make it a melting pot of attractions. The cathedral (which houses Pizarro's remains), the Monastery of San Francisco with its famous catacombs and the Gold museum, along with the close proximity to the Nazca Lines and the wine regions of Ica and Pisco, makes Lima an excellent start. TO SEE AND DO IN LIMABelow are some of the attractions that Lima has to offer giving you the choice of what you would like to see and do. Plaza Mayor: Lima's main square, containing the cathedral with Pizarro's remains and the beautiful presidential palace. Monastery of San Francisco: a 17th century church, containing ornate decorations, a library, and all built on top of a network of tunnels and catacombs containing the bones of the first European inhabitants. Gold museum: probably Lima's most famous museum, containing Inca, Pre-Inca and European gold artefacts. Archaeological Museum: a simple museum showing the progression of Peru's various civilisations, dating from the Chavin in 1200BC right through to the Incas. Indigenous markets: there are several that can be included on a city tour or on your own, where anything can be found from alpaca scarves to leather goods to jewellery. Barranco, San Isidro, Miraflores: these three districts give a taste of the city as a whole - Barranco with its colonial architecture, San Isidro, the bustling business commercial centre, or Miraflores, the upmarket residential centre on the coast. City Tours: these can be done as full or half day tours, combining any of the above and more.
| 
