Historic Lima

The site of modern day Lima Peru was founded January 18, 1535 by conquistador Francisco Pizzaro naming it The City of Kings. Yet the area's original name endured and it continued as Lima. The city became the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru and the Real Audiencia in 1543. The Americas were divided into two Viceroyalties - New Spain (based in Mexico City, Mexico) and Peru (based in Lima). It was from Lima that the Spanish oversaw and governed South America.
It was during these early years that the historic Center of Lima was built including the Plaza Major, The Basilica Cathedral of Lima (1535-1540), Governmental Palace-House of Pizzaro (1535), Archbishops Palace, House of Aligia (1535), House of Pilatos, the University of San Marco and Convent of Santo Domingo and the Court of Santo Oficio (1569).