Sacred Valley and Cusco Peru
 The
Sacred Valley of the Incas, is actually the Vilcanota/Urubamba
River valley. It is located about 10 miles north of Cusco, and
extends northwest through Pisac and Ollantaytambo. This entire
region, highlighted by Cusco, was the heart of the Inca civilization
from the 14th to the 15th centuries. In reflection, there are
numerous impressive ruins. Many of the villagers in this valley
today live life much the same as they did prior to the Spanish
Conquest in 1532.
Cuzco is a city where past and present collide
in an uneasy mix. This mythical capital of the Inca Empire, preserves
with pride its wall and battlements of stone, which evoke the
greatness of the sons of the sun. Cusco is a city plentiful of
historical monuments and relics and of myths and legends. Visiting
Cuzco is an unforgettable experience that permits to unravel some
of the mysteries of the Incas, because Cusco was the center, the
navel of the Andean world.
Today, Cuzco, the archeological capital of Peru
and the Americas is a city open to the world, welcoming its visitors
who marvel at its unusual aspect, which integrates, in the same
urban environment and with unique harmony pre-Colombian monuments
such as the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun), the Ajlla Wasi, the
Amaru Cancha (fence of the serpent), the Kiswar Kancha, etc. with
gems of the "mestizaje" (mix of the Spanish and the
native) such as the Cathedral, the Church and Convent of La Merced
and the Temple of San Blas.
 Cuzco
is surrounded by impressive archeological remains such as the
citadel of Machu Picchu, the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Ollantaytambo
compound and picturesque towns such as Pisaq, Calca and Yucay,
which still preserve the traditions of their ancestors.
Other places to explore in this intriguing city
include the Plaza de Armas. In Inca times it was not only the
exact center of the empire but was twice as large as it is now.
The plaza was surfaced with white sand mixed with shell, bits
of gold, silver and coral. The church, La Compania, with its intricate
interior, finely carved balconies and altars covered in gold leaf,
was started in 1571 and took nearly 100 years to complete, in
part due to the damage in the 1650 earthquake. A fine collection
of art, which flourished from the 16th century through 18th centuries
is found at the Museum of Religious Art on Calle Palacio. Once
the palace of Roca Inca this now Moorish building has complicated
carvings on its doors and balconies.
Cuzco Peru. An Unforgettable Experience. |
