Cuzco

The city of Cuzco, known as the archeological capital of America contends with Mexico for the honor of being the oldest city of America.

It is interesting to visit:

- The Cathedral, contains one of the largest collections of colonial art of Peru. The Cathedral was built on the palace of the Inca Wiracocha.

- Church of La Compañia de Jesus, built on the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac. The design and front are examples of the Andean baroque.

- Church La Merced, with baroque style. The vestry bears a golden monstrance of 1,30 meters of height with 1.500 diamonds.

- Church and Monastery of San Francisco, with an outstanding painting of Juan Espinoza de los Monteros. Besides of catacumbs and carving in wood.

- Church of Santo Domingo, built on the great temple of the Sun, the Corikancha. It has a valious picture gallery with paintings from the 17th. and 18th. centuries.

- The handicraft markets on the following streets: San Andres, Square of Arms, the Avenue El Sol and Triunfo St.


Besides of visit:

- Church and Monastery of Santa Catalina
- Church of San Blas
- Monument of Pachacutec
- Arzobispal Palace
- Almirante Palace
- Casa de los Cuatro Bustos
- House of the Inca Garcilazo de la Vega
- Beatario de las Nazarenas


Archeological Sites Attractions:

Archeological Site of Sacsayhuaman, located at 2 kilometers from Cuzco. A colossal building that was built by 20.000 men over a period of 50 years. It could have been a religious building for its location and style, but when the Spanish and chronists saw it for the first time, all agreed that it must have had a military function.

It is assumed that it was there that the most important temple of Hanan Qosqo or Cusco de Arriba, devoted to the Andean cosmology, for the veneration of the Inti (sun), Quilla (moon), Chaska (stars) and Illapa (thunder) laid.

Every June 24th., the Inti raymi or festivity of the Sun, is carried out.

Archeological Site of Qenko - Kenko, located at 6 kilometers from Cuzco. A religious center with a semi-circular amphitheater and seats of stone. It was considered a sacred place where ceremonies to honor the sun, moon and stars were carried out.

Archeological Site of Pukapukara - Puca Pucara, located at 7 kilometers from Cuzco. A place used as "tambo" or rest place and hostel. According to the stories, everytime the Inca visited Tambomachay, he was accompanied by a great commitive that stayed in Pukapukara.

Archeological Site of Tambomachay, located at 9 kilometers from Cuzco. The place has a surface extension of a half hectare and was built around the year 1500 a.C. According to researchers, Tambomachay had an important religious function linked to the water and the regeneration of the earth.

Archeological Site of Raqchi or Wiracocha, located at 112 kilometers from Cuzco. Known as the temple of Wiracocha. It is one of the audacious works of engineering of the Incas. It dates back from the 15th., century.

Archeological Site of Choquequirao, located at 90 kilometers from the city of Abancay. It is a site of architectonic constructions of stone with hundreds of platforms, rooms and watering systems. Choquequirao - Chuqui K´iraw, "golden cradle", could be one of the lost cities in the valley of Vilcabamba, place where the Incas took shelter since 1536.

Archeological Site of Tipon, located at 25 kilometers from Cuzco. According to the legends, Tipon is one of the royal gardens built by Wiracocha. It has twelve terraces with walls of perfectly polished stone and huge platform, canals and water falls that have an impressing landscape along with the flora of that place.

Archeological Site of Ollantaytambo, located at 97 kilometers from Cuzco. It was built as a fortress for administrative and militay tasks; with different established areas. A space called "Araqama Ayllu" for the cult and religion. Another space called "Qosqo Ayllu" for living.