Mug Shot — «Lima - Balconies of Lima»

City: Lima Country: Peru Edition: 2008 Icon Edition Belongs to: 467 users (15 trading, 176 seeking)

Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima Metropolitan Area. With a population approaching 9 million, Lima is the fourth largest city in the Americas, behind São Paulo, Mexico City, and New York City. Lima is home to one of the largest financial hubs in Latin America. Lima was founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as la Ciudad de los Reyes, or "the City of Kings". It became the capital and most important city in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. Following the Peruvian War of Independence, it became the capital of the Republic of Peru. Today, around one-third of the Peruvian population lives in the metropolitan area. Lima is home to one of the oldest higher learning institutions in the New World. The National University of San Marcos, founded on May 12, 1551 during Spanish colonial regime, is the oldest continuously functioning university in the Americas.

The Balconies of Lima are cultural heritage built during the Spanish colonial regime as well as in the republic era in Peru. Most of them were built in the late 17th and 18th centuries, hence structures are located in the historical center of Lima. They were adapted for ceremonial purposes and have influenced in the life of many Peruvian scholars such as the 19th century writer Ricardo Palma. Nowadays the number of them counts up to 1,600. In order to retain its conservation, the Municipality of Lima has invited individuals and companies to adopt a balcony in order to maintain them as if they were new. The abundance of these balconies adds to the particular harmony and originality to this part of the city.


photo by lucky
edited by mobydick74

  Peru, Lima

Karma: 13 Added by CHL 2 Comments