Foundation of Lima

1532. A contingent of Spanish conquerors, led by Francisco Pizarro, defeated Atahualpa and conquered the Inca Empire. The Spanish Crown gave Pizarro the power to appoint himself governor of any city, town or space that he conquered. Therefore, the Spanish colonizer began the search for his new capital, because they rejected settling in Cusco.

The first option was Jauja, which we know today as Junín. However, the Spanish explorers Ruy Díaz, Juan Tello and Alonso Martín de Don Benito, rejected this idea due to its distance from the sea, its Andean altitude and how rugged it could get to this point when the weather was not favorable.

These same guides, under the command of Francisco Pizarro, gave an ideal place to settle down and build their new city. It would be the Rímac Valley, with its temperate climate, wood everywhere, spacious cultivation fields, endless water supplies and the proximity to the Pacific Ocean, which made it the perfect area.

With a founding date of January 18th, 1535, this space in the Rímac Valley (pronounced ‘Limac’ by the Yungas of the area) became the new capital of Peru, which endured invasions, wars and rebellions. However, despite how difficult it was to sustain itself over time, it always remained standing, to become the most important region in Peru.

Modern Lima
Far from the rifles and hondas (weapons) of the past, today Lima enjoys stability and attracts tourists from around the world. The capital of Peru is rich in culture, history and gastronomy, and has countless activities to do. From visiting its historic center, which still has buildings from the colonial era, to touring a delicious route of flavor. In addition, it has an extra attraction, as it is the only capital of South America with an ocean view. This is Lima, magical, emblematic and, above all, beautiful.

Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral of Lima in the background, located in the Cercado de Lima. Credit: Adrián Portugal / PromPerú.