2. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Main Square, Cusco
During the Inca Empire, the square was called
Hucaypata, a Quechua word meaning “place of
tears” or “meeting place”. It was an important
ceremonial spot where the Inti Raymi or Festival of
the Sun was celebrated every year. It is also the place
where Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of
Cusco. After the Spanish arrived, the plaza changed.
They erected stone arches and built the structures
that surround it today.
Barrio de San Blas
It is one of the most picturesque areas in all Cusco. It
is called Tóqokachi or Salt Hole and is characterized
by narrow, steep streets and beautiful Colonial
houses. It also known as the Artisans Neighborhood.
In San Blas many families accommodate guests in
their homes.
3. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Cathedral of Cusco
The building went through two constructions stages:
first, the chapel of the Triumph was built on top of
what used to be the temple Suntar Wasi (House of
God); later, the cathedral itself was built over the
remains of the palace of Inca Wiracocha. A
Renaissance building in its majority, the interior
decoration is rich in cedar and elder woodcarving.
The choir and the pulpit stand out for their beauty.
An important collection of paintings from Cusco
School and silver wrought pieces are also kept there.
Church of San Blas
Founded in 1560 during the Colonial period, it
features a masterpiece in its wood carved Baroque
pulpit, attributed to the Indigenous, Diego Quispe
Tito.
4. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Church and Convent of Santo Domingo
The Koricancha was one of the most impressive
buildings of the Inca Cusco according to the
historians: the glowing gilding of the interior walls
illuminates what used to be the main temple
dedicated to the worship of the Sun God. The
Spanish built the church and Dominican convent on
top of the original structure around 1534 but they
collapsed during the earthquake of 1650 and were
rebuilt around 1681. The convent possesses an art
gallery of valuable seventeenth and eighteenth
century canvasses.
Palacio del Almirante (Admiral´s Palace)
It is an old mansión, wich today is the site of the Inca
Museum. It contains an important archeological
collection that includes ceramic, fine metal, and
textile pieces as well as mummies.
5. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Palacio Arzobispal y Piedra de los Doce Ángulos
This Vice –royal building with Arabic influence was raised on
the foundations of the palace of Inca Roca. Presently, it is
the main centre of the Museum of Religious Art. On Calle
Hatunrumiyoc, you can see and old wall that was part of
Inca in terms of polished and perfectly placed stones. The
most remarkable part is “ Twelve Angle Sione”, famous for
the perfect work and assembling of its angels.
Born on April 12, 1539, Inca Garcilazo de la Vega was the
son of the Spanish Captain Garcilaso de la Vega y Vargas and
the Cusco princess, Chimpu Ocllo He is the author of two
works, “Comentarios Reales” (Royal Commentaries) and “La
Florida Inca” (The Inca Flower), both motivated by the
necessity to recover the history of the Inca Empire. The
house is the current location of the Regional Historical
Museum that contains a collection of cnvass from the Cusco
school.
6. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Larco Museum of Pre – Colombian Art
The mansion that shelters the museum was Kancha
Inca in 1450, the house of the Conquistador Alonso
Díaz in 1580, the home of Count de la Cabrera in
1850, and was completely restored to become the
Museum of Pre – Colombian Art in June 2003. In Its
11 rooms, 450 works of art are displayed that date
from 1250 B.C to 1532 A.D. These were selected
from a group of 45.000 objects belonging to the
collection of the Larco Archeological Museum in
Lima.
Qenko Archeological complex
The Quenko or “labyrinth” might date from around
1500 A.D. It is considered a holy place where
ceremonies honoring the sun, moon, and the stars
used to take place.
7. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Awanakancha South American Camelids Theme Park
Camelids such as llamas, vicuñas, and alpacas are to be
seen there in their native environment. They also
demonstrate how to make clothing from the wool fibers
of the animals. In addition, you can see native flowers
and some Inca – built agricultural terraces.
Pukapukara Archeological Complex
The complex contains several rooms, inner plazas,
aqueducts, vantage points, and pathways. It might
served as a tambo or rest and lodging area.
According to the tale, each time the Inca was able to
g to Tambomachay, he would be accompanied by a
large cortege, which stayed at Pukapukara. It is also
called a fort because of its fortified-city appearance.
8. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Sacsayhuaman Archeological Complex
The area contains thirty-three archeological sites.
The most famous is Fort Sacsayhuaman. It might well
have been religious structure, but for its location and
style, the Spanish and historians believe it was a
military construction. The most important temple in
Hanan Qosqo or Upper Cusco might have been
located there, dedicated to Andean cosmology and
to the worship of the Inti (sun), the Quilla (moon),
Chaska (stars),Illapa (ray), and other divinities. It is
described as massive for the size of some of its
stones. Which weigh between 90 and 120 tons. This
is also the stage of the Iti Raymi or Festival of the Sun
every 24th June.
9. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
It was part of the Inca highway system (Qhapaq Ñan)
and is one of the most important South American
trekking routes. Along the hike, you can see several
gorges and streams that originate from glaciers.
There are twelve archeological monuments along the
trail, such as Qoriwacharachina, Patallaqta,
Runkuraqay, , Intipunku, Intipata and Wiñayhuayna.
The starting point of the trip varies according to the
trail you wish to take. The most popular route starts
around kilometer marker 82 of the railroad Cusco –
Machu Picchu (40 km / 25 miles from the citadel
itself). Another possibility, shorter in time, is called
the Sacred Trail and begins at kilometer marker 104
of the railroad.
10. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Province of Canvas
Q´eswachaka Hanging Bridge
This 33-kilometer (21-mile) long and 1-meter (3-feet)
wide bridge is perfect spot to see the Apurimac river
Canyon in all its splendor. Every second Sunday of
June, about 1000 local people come to weave it with
braided straw of ichu grass and chanchacomo, a
process that takes three days. The task, which
predates the Incas uses traditional techniques and is
executed in the framework of ritual ceremonies and
dances performed by the family members of the
area. The bridgework finishes on the fourth day
giving way to singing and dancing.
11. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Province of Calca
Village of Pisac
Pisac is well known for its craft market, but there are
also Inca archeological remnants: an irrigation
system, an astronomical observatory, a solar clock
and calendar (Intiwatana), and agricultural terraces.
City of Calca
You find the Huchu´y Qosqo or Little Cusco
archeological vestiges there, as well as the
Machacancha medicinal hot springs (sulfurous
waters), and Minasmoqo (cold, sparkling waters).
The snow capped mountains Pitsurisay and
Sawarisay intensify the beauty of the landscape.
12. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Province of La Convención
Quillabamba
At 1050 masl / 3445 fasl, the capital of the province
is an important trade centre in the Lares and La
Convencion Valleys. The main economic activities are
the growing of coca leaves, coffee, cacao, and fruit.
The city was founded on July 25, 1857. The valley
microclimate makes it an ideal location for sports.
Chokequirao Archeological Complex.
Choquequirao (chuki k´iraw or Cradle of Gold) could
be one of the lost Inca citadels in the Vilcabamba
Valley where the Incas took refuge from the Spanish
in 1536. The complex consists of nine archeological
stone groups. There are hundreds of agricultural
terraces, rooms, and irrigation systems. The buildings
are constructed around a central promenade or main
square.
13. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Province of Quispicanchis
Pikillacta
This is a pre-Inca city wich cultural height was
reached between 800 A.D and 1100 A.D. in the
period corresponding to the Huari regional
confederation. It constituted the doorway to the
Sacred City of the Incas. It features long, straight
streets and blocks full of buildings. It is surrounded
by walls and there are spherical buildings in the
western part. The flagstone and mud mortared walls
are high and their foundation taper as they rise.
Temple of Andahuaylillas
Known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, it was
built in 158o and features a simple façade contrasted
by Baroque interior with its gilded altars, walls,
paintings and polychromatic ceilings
14. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Tipon Archeological Complex
According to legends, Tipon is one of the royal gardens that
Wiracocha ordered to be built. It is made up of twelve
terraces flanked by perfectly polished stonewalls and
enormous agricultural terraces, canals, and decorative
waterfalls that, along with the native flowers of the area,
offers the visitor a stunning vision. The site is composed of
different sectors: Tipon itself, Intiwatana, Pukutuyuj and
Pucará, Cruz Moqo, The cemetery of Pitopujio, Hatun
Wayq´o, among others.
Province of Paucartambo
Tres Cruces
Tres Cruces is a natural lookout located on the edge of the
Manu Biosphere Reserve. This place is famous for the so-
called “white ray” phenomenon that occurs when the sun
rises over the horizon during the winter solstice (June, July).
The light shines through the humid atmosphere and is
distorted as if going through a prism. The effect causes
three suns appear, one of them seems to be jumping from
one side to the other.
15. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Province of Urubamba
City of Urubamba
It is located on the heart of the Sacred Valley. Before
the Incas, it was a very important agricultural center.
Today the economy is based on farming and tourism,
and the city itself is known for being one of the
friendliest in the valley. Good tourist services are
available in Urubamba.
Village of Chincheros
A must see is a Colonial church where beautiful
paintings of the Cusco School are kept. Every Sunday,
the farmers and businessmen gather to exchange
their products in a fair where they still barter. There
are important archeological vestiges in the area.
16. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Maras Salt Mines
Also called Salinas de Maras , these salt-mines have been used since
the Tahuantinsuyo. The people channel the salt water that bubbles
to the surface from a spring called Qoripujio towards men-made
wells. From the exposure to the sun, the water evaporates and the
salt remains on the surface to be transported later to the market to
be sold. The view of this complex of nearly 3000 wells is spectacular.
The local people happily demonstrate the ancient techniques to
visitors, even allowing them to participate in them.
Moray Archeological Complex
There are slightly elliptical agricultural terraces, that the people call
muyus. The largest structure is 45 meters / 148 feet deep, and the
average height of each terrace is 2 meters / 3 feet. Many think that
this place was an important agricultural experimentation center for
the Incas. Through the use of concentric terraces and because the
temperature is different in each of their level, all the ecological tiers
found in the confines of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire would have been
reproduced in this complex.
17. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary
Machu Picchu is an impressive Inca citadel placed on the side of a
mountain. Its Quechau name means “Old Mountain”, but it is also
known as “The Lost City of the Incas” since it remained hidden from
the West until discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. It was built in
the fifteenth century, and is attributed to the Inca Pachacutec. The
archeological complex is divided into two zones that are contained
within approximately twenty hectares. On the sides of the
mountain, you can see up four meters high (13 feet) agricultural
terraces. Several plazas and buildings, the most important being the
Temple of the Sun, The Intihuatana or solar clock and calendar, the
Temple of the Tree Windows, the Main Temple and The Condor
Sector, make up the urban sector. There is also an impressive
monolith of carved stone, three meters high (10 feet) and seven
meters wide (23 feet) at the base, named the Sacred Stone. In order
to build Machu Picchu, the Incas had to use blocks of stone brought
from long distances. The finish of the walls features different quality
levels and techniques. One highest quality walls in the central one
of the Main Temple where the stones fit together perfectly.
The Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary is not only a priceless
archeological site, it is also associated with rich animal and plant life.
In 1983, UNESCO placed it on the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage Lists.
18. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
Ollantaytambo Archeological Complex
The Incas built it as a fort that included a temple,
agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are
twon distinct sectors: Araqama Ayllu, the religious
and worship part, and Qosqo Ayllu, the residential
area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative
center with probable military functions if one
considers the walls and towers. There are also traces
of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of
Ollantaytambo is called a Living Inca Town since the
inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs.
From Ollantaytambo, you can visit the villa of Willoc,
where the Quechua-speaking inhabitants distinguish
themselves from the rest of the region by wearing
red clothing that identifies them as members of a
unique family.
19. CUSCO: THE BELLY BUTTON OF THE WORLD
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