History of Lima as it was designated capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru and site of a "Real Audiencia" in 1543. Latin America and Lima's first university, the National University of San Marcos was established in 1551 and its first printing press in 1584. Lima also became an important religious center, a Roman Catholic diocese was established in 1541 and converted to an archdiocese five years later. In 1609, the city held celebrations for the beatification of Ignatius of Loyola. Lima flourished during the 17th century as the center of an extensive trade network which integrated the Viceroyalty of Peru with the Americas,
Ponte de Lima municipality is divided into 39 civil parishes ("freguesias"): Ponte de Lima is located in the southern bank of the Lima, a small river with sources in Spain. One of the oldest towns in Portugal (founded on 4 March 1125), it was historically significant as a Roman settlement in the road from Braga to Santiago de Compostela and Lugo, and the first place in Portugal getting a municipal charter. Every second Monday, it holds one of the largest country markets in Portugal. In the second weekend of September, Ponte de Lima hold the "Feiras Novas" (the new fairs) for three days