Lima, the capital of Peru, was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and was originally named 'Ciudad de los Reyes' (City of Kings). It served as the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, the most important Spanish administrative center in South America for nearly three centuries. Lima is unique for being located in a coastal desert; it is the second-largest desert city in the world after Cairo. Despite sitting on the Pacific Ocean, it almost never rains in Lima due to the Humboldt Current, which creates a persistent grey mist known as 'garúa' for much of the year. Today, Lima is celebrated as the 'Gastronomic Capital of the World,' boasting a fusion of indigenous, Spanish, African, and Asian culinary influences. It is also home to the National University of San Marcos, established in 1551, which is the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas. The city's blend of pre-Columbian ruins (huacas) and grand colonial plazas makes it a unique historical archive.