LIMA Capital of Peru, founded in 1535 by the spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who named it 'Ciudad de los Reyes' (City of the Kings). Seat of the spanish viceroy until 1821. Posesses the oldest university of the american continent (San Marcos, founded in 1551) and many notable buildings, among them the Cathedral which was consagrated in 1625. In 1746, the city and its port El Callao were partially destroyed by an earthquake. Its strategic location within the South American subcontinent makes Lima an important place for transportation and commerce. At the beginning of the XXth century, the city still maintains the size and other characteristics of the peaceful colonial capital. From this point it starts to expand, slowly at first and then with every decade more rapidly, until reaching an excessive growth rate of 5% per year in the '70s, mainly due to massive migration from the highlands. Actually, the metropolitan area of Lima and Callao covers about 500 km2, with a population of nearly 8 millions. The urban development has been so intensive that it has given rise to a great breach between the supply and demand of basic services such as education, health, energy, transportation, housing and drinking water supply. Still another consequence of the rampant urban expansion without adequate planning and control is the gradual disappearance of the agricultural area which once surrounded the city. In spite of all this, Lima still maintains a very special charm, which is surely noted by the visitor who is interested to see more than the average tourist and dares to explore the city more profoundly, and with some patience.