City of Lima
Peru was the center of the Spanish Viceroyalty in America, Lima being its capital. Lima is a cosmopolitan city, full of culture and history. The historic center is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to the great artistic cultural heritage found there. You can find colonial mansions with impressive wooden balconies, in addition to beautiful churches and convents.
Lima is a large city with around 8.5 million inhabitants in the city of Lima, and 9.5 million in the Lima region. It has grown very fast, but without planning. Since the 70’s there has been a great immigration from the Sierra to Lima by people without jobs or money, in search of better opportunities. These people began the first “young villages” with houses built with straw mats, which over time were improved with bricks and currently have basic water and electricity services. There are constantly new invasions on the outskirts of the city, forming new young towns.
Lima is divided into 33 districts, each governed by a mayor.
The residential districts of Lima are: San Isidro, Miraflores, Surco, San Borja, La Molina and Barranco.
Weather in Lima
In Summer: Wet and hot, usually sunny. The temperature fluctuates between 18ºC-28ºC (on average 25ºC during the day). It is the best time to enjoy Lima and its beautiful beaches. Summer begins in December and ends in March, although in recent years the heat has lasted until the month of May
In Winter: The temperature fluctuates between 12ºC-21ºC (on average 15ºC), but the sensation of cold is greater due to the high humidity levels that reach 100%. Generally a gray cloud covers the city, especially near the sea. The coldest months are July and August. Winter officially begins at the end of June and ends at the end of September.
In Lima it almost never rains, but in the winter months sometimes garúa falls (a very fine drizzle).
When looking for a place to live, keep in mind that Lima’s climate varies depending on the district. Monterrico (Surco) and La Molina are always sunnier and drier than San Isidro, Barranco and Miraflores, where the humidity is higher because they are close to the sea. It is also important to consider that there are few houses that have air conditioning or heating. It is also not common to find dishwashers.
Traditions and Customs
Pisco Day: Pisco is an alcoholic beverage made from grapes, originally from Peru in the 16th century. It was produced from the first strains brought to the territory by Marquis Francisco de Caravantes. The Pisco Day celebration takes place on the fourth Sunday of July. On this date, Lima celebrates the tourist impulse of the Peru brand thanks to one of its main products.
The day of Pisco Sour takes place on the first Saturday of February. During this holiday, a series of exhibitions, pairings and gastronomic fairs are held in the capital city.
Lima Foundation: It is a celebration that takes place from January 15 to 25 of each year, commemorating the foundation of the city.
On the eve of January 18, the inhabitants of the city share and enjoy cultural presentations, gastronomic tastings and fireworks. The following days, parades of troupes and various folkloric shows are organized in which Peruvian and international cultural and artistic groups are presented.
Santa Rosa de Lima Day: On August 30, the day of Santa Rosa de Lima is celebrated throughout the country, however, in the capital it is lived with greater intensity. The festival includes a pilgrimage to which the faithful go to Santa Rosa de Quives, where the Holy lived during her childhood.
The Lord of Miracles: The month of October is considered the Purple Month in honor of the Lord of Miracles. During this month there are processions in which the image of the Lord of Miracles comes out to travel the streets of Lima followed by the faithful, who march with incenses and candles and all dressed in purple. During this month the Turrón de Doña Pepa is also typical, dessert sweetened with honey.