Lima, capital of Lima Province, is both the capital and largest city in Peru. It is the cultural and economic hub of the country.

Tourist attractions

The Historic centre of Lima, located in downtown Lima and the Rímac District, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 due to the large number of historical buildings dating from the Spanish colonial era, some of which have now been restored. In particular, the monumental Plaza Mayor, with the 16th century Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, and the catacombs of the Convento de San Francisco are popular between visitors.
Several sections of the Lima city Walls can still be seen. These fine examples of Spanish medieval fortification were used to defend Lima from attacks from pirates and corsairs.
The city also has a number of fine museums, notably the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology, and History and the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum, both in the Pueblo Libre district. The Museum of the Nation in San Borja district shows the evolution of pre-inca and inca cultures in a modern monumental building.
Many beaches, which are heavily visited during the summer months, are located by the southern Pan-American Highway. The most well-known ones are located in the districts of Santa María del Mar, Punta Hermosa, Punta Negra, San Bartolo and Pucusana. Also, the district of Ancón, located north of the city, has a very popular beach resort. Numerous restaurants, clubs and hotels have been opened in these places to serve the many beachgoers. The beaches in Lima's bay (in front of the main city) are visited by lots of surfers, runners and young people.
Recently, the Palomino Islands near the port of Callao have attracted visitors due to a population of sea lions.