From the time it was founded in 1535, by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, until its independence in the early 19th century, Lima was one of the most important cities in Spanish Latin America. Wealth and power just oozed from this prestigious capital located roughly half way down Peru's Pacific coast. But today you may have to look a little harder to see it. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1746, and now plagued by pollution and a sea mist, garúa, some eight months each year, Lima's old colonial heart is tucked away in a sprawl of pueblos jóvenes, or squatter settlements, and fashionable new districts such as Miraflores and San Isidro. But there's no denying the city's glorious past and vibrant present, and with all the museums and entertainment possibilities learning Spanish here will certainly not be dull.
