Cuzco is seen as the archaeological capital of the Americas and
is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent. UNESCO named
it a Cultural Treasure of Humanity. It is located in the Valley
of the Huatanay River in Peru's south eastern Andes, in the province and
department of Cuzco. It stands 3,310m high above sea level and
its more than 150,000 inhabitants are mainly Ouechua-speaking Indian.
The
climate is generally mild, cold and dry, with an average annual temperature
of 11°C. The rainy season runs from November to March. Visitors are advised
to bring along warm cloth and raincoats during the rainy season.
Because
of the altitude, visitors may initially feel some discomfort and should
slow their pace the first 24 hours. If you fly into Cuzco try not to drink
alcohol and smoke too much the first evening after arrival. You will adjust
much faster.
Cuzco
was the capital of the Inca Empire, one of the greatest planned
societies the world has known. It is an important link in the South American
travel network.
Most
of the city streets are lined with Inca-built stonewalls and the
city is remarkable for its many colonial churches. The Inca stonework
is serving now also as foundation for more modern buildings. The stonework
is tapered upwards and every wall has a perfect line of inclination towards
the centre. The individual stones are battered with each edge and corner
rounded.
The
Santo Domingo Church was built in 17th century on the walls of
the Templo del Qorincancha – The Temple of the Sun - the most magnificent
complex in Cuzco. Its walls were covered in gold, and windows were constructed,
so the sun would cast a near-blinding reflection of golden light off the
precious metals inside. Current excavation is revealing more and more
of the five chambers of the Temple of the Sun, which shows the best Inca
stonework to be seen in Cuzco.
More
very good impression of Inca stonework you get, if you go to Callejón
Loreto. There you have on one side the walls of the House of the
Women of the Sun and on the other the walls of the Palace of the
Serpents. The Temples of the Stars and of the Moon are
still intact.
The
heart of the city is and always was the Plaza de Armas, which
is particularly beautiful. Colonial arcades and four churches, one of
them the Cathedral, surround it. There are three outstanding churches
in Cuzco: La Merced, San Francisco, and Belén de los Reyes.
All of them in walking distance. Churches are full of marvellous works
from the Cuzco school of painting, distinguished by its mix of
Catholic and pagan imagery.
There
are numerous exquisite museums in the city! The Museum of Archaeology
is only one of them.
From
Cuzco as a base you can visit many ancient Inca settlements and fortresses
in the most beautiful surrounding area and adjoining valleys.
The
best known of these fortresses is Sacsayhuamán, a bold example
of Inca architectural skills. Constructed from massive stone – including
one that weights 125 tons in one piece – this military complex is overlooking
the city of Cuzco. Inti Raymi, the Inca feast of the winter solstice,
is celebrated every year on 24. June.
You
can carry on 7km from Sacsayhuamán to Qenko, an Inca shrine with
architectural features that include a 5-meter (18ft) high stone block
that looks like a puma.
Further
along the road to Pisac is a smaller fortress,
Puca Pucara, believed to have guarded the road and the Sacred
Valley. From there the road drops down on a curvy road into the Sacred
Valley of the Urubamba River and to Pisac.
Pisac
is a friendly fishing village known for its fishing, Sunday market and
the ruins above the town. The stones in Pisac´s ruins are smaller than
the ones in Sacsayhuamán, but the precision with which they are cut and
fit, will amaze you, as well the beautiful view.
Ollantaytambo
is the great fortress 72 km (45 miles) from Cuzco.
What
is a must at your stay in the Cuzco and Sacred Valley area is Machu
Picchu, about 42km by train from Ollantaytambo or 112km from Cuzco.
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