Rímac (pronunciation: [ˈri.mak]), known until the 19th century as the neighbourhood of San Lázaro, is a district in the Lima Province, Peru. It lies directly to the north of downtown Lima, to which it is connected by six bridges over the Rímac River. The district also borders the Independencia, San Martín de Porres, and San Juan de Lurigancho districts. Vestiges of Lima's colonial heyday remain today in an area of the Rímac district known as the Historic centre of Lima, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Downtown Rímac District has, like its southern counterpart, its eastern and western sides divided by Jirón Trujillo, which connects to Lima District's Jirón de la Unión through the Puente de Piedra, the oldest bridge in the whole city. Rímac's East side features the Plaza de Acho, the most famous bullfighting arena in South America and one of the most well known in the world.
Looking directly from Ricardo Palma Bridge on downtown Lima district's East side can be seen a large building with the logo of Cristal beer, one of two famous Peruvian brands. This was the main brewery until the Backus company moved operations to Ate in the 1990s.
North of the plant goes the Alameda de los Descalzos, a short boulevard with a large planted median leading into the Convento de los Descalzos (Barefoot Monks convent). Built in the 18th century by the Spanish colonial government, it is one of the best features in this lower-middle-class district.
Northern Rímac, or Amancaes, once romanticized in ballads as "La Flor de Amancaes", a hilly prairie, is now overrun with pueblos jóvenes (shanty towns). The Cerro San Cristóbal, which is the highest point in the Lima Province, is located in the district.
