The Peruvian metropolis is LIMA, which is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central coastal part of the country. It is the fourth most populous metropolitan area in South America, with a population of more than 9 million people. LIMA is home to one of the oldest higher-learning institutions in the New World, the National University of San Marcos, founded in 1551. It is also home to numerous cultural sites, such as the Monastery of San Francisco, the Plaza Mayor, and the Cathedral of LIMA.