Lima City Map Poster

About Lima

The city of Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on 18 January 1535, as "Ciudad de los Reyes" (City of the Kings). It became the capital and most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. Following independence from Spain in 1821, Lima became a constitutional republic and an important cultural center. The National University of San Marcos, established during colonial times, is one among very few institutions to offer education in various locations around the country outside its main campus; it also has campuses abroad located at Madrid (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Leipzig (Germany). In October 2013 Lima was chosen to host over 2019 Pan American Games. This event motivated several large investments for infrastructure improvements along with new transportation systems including a modern tram system called Transmetro that connects Miraflores district with Barranco district through downtown area passing by central railway station "Estación Central".