Lima, capital of Peru is located on the Rímac River between the Pacific Ocean and Andes, in the arid coastal region yet spends eight monhs a year shrouded in fog. The illustrious 'City of Kings' founded by the conquistadors over 450 years ago was once almost a second Royal Court of Spain. Today, though very much a busy modern city it guards a priceless treasure-chest of Spanish colonial art and architecture. Landmarks include the large Plaza de Armas lined with arcades of shops and the Palacio de Gobierno, the nearby cathedral reconstructed in 175, several 16th and 17th century churches that survived a damaging earthquake in 1746 and the Acho Bullring originally dating from1764. Also of interest are museums of art, history, archaeology, and philately. Travel deeper into the country to visit the Incas ancient capital at Cuzco and the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu, high in the Andean foothills.