Lima metropolitan area in South America and the seventh in the Americas. Lima metropolitan area The Lima metropolitan area (, also known as "Lima Metropolitana"), is an area formed by the conurbation of the Peruvian city-provinces of Lima (the nation's capital) and Callao. It is the largest of the metropolitan areas of Peru, the seventh largest in the Americas, the fourth largest in Latin America, and among the thirty largest in the world. The conurbation process started to be evident in the 1980s. The metropolitan area is composed of six subregions. These are Lima Norte, Lima Sur, Lima Este, Residential Lima, Central Lima,
Lima as principal green spaces and contain monuments, statues and water fountains. Strongly influenced by European, Andean, African and Asian culture, Lima is a melting pot, due to colonization, immigration and indigenous influences. The Historic Centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The city is known as the "Gastronomical Capital of the Americas," mixing Spanish, Andean and Asian culinary traditions. Lima's beaches, located along the northern and southern ends of the city, are heavily visited during the summer. Restaurants, clubs and hotels serve the beachgoers. Lima has a vibrant and active theater scene, including classic theater, cultural presentations,