The capital and largest city of Peru, Lima was founded in 1535 by Spanish explorer and conqueror Francisco Pizarro. It was the capital of Spain's New World Empire until the 19th century. Today, almost a third of Peru's population of 24 million people live in Lima, making much of the city overcrowded and noisy. While renewal projects have restored some of the city's ancient charm, Lima remains a mix of old and new. (JUERGEN RITTERBACH—GETTY IMAGES)