Day
or night, Cusco is a city full of charisma and
attractions. Mornings are ideal for strolling through
its streets, visiting its churches, wandering about the
artisan quarter of San Blas or going to the towns and
archeological remains in the surrounding countryside.
At night, when the city is dressed up in light, discos,
pubs and restaurants are the main attractions. Cusco's
night life offers you a wide variety of places to go out
and enjoy yourself, satisfying even the most different
demands.
Being in Cusco, visits to the city's Churches and
Convents, and the nearby archeological sites as Machu
Picchu, Saqsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo are a must.
CUSCO - PERU
CHURCHES AND CONVENTS
The Cathedral of Cusco
was originally built inside the Inca structure of the
Suntur Wasi (currently the Church of El Triunfo). Years
later, the Cathedral was ordered to be rebuilt in the
Kiswarcancha (Palace of Inca Wiracocha).
The Church and Convent of Santo Domingo
are,
without doubt, amongst the most beautiful examples of
Spanish architecture superimposed on Inca constructions
to be found in Cusco. This complex was built over
the Qoricancha or Korikancha, meaning the Temple of the
Sun.
La Compañía de Jesus, or Jesuit Cathedral,
is a splendid stone construction housing, amongst other
treasures, a collection of unique paintings. It was
built over what was formerly the Amaru Cancha ("Fence of
the Serpent") close to Cusco's main square.
The Church and Convent of La Merced,
built in
1536, is famous as the home of the shrine of Our Lady of
La Merced, decorated with gold and precious stones.
CUSCO - PERU
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
The
sites surrounding Cusco, such as Machu Picchu,
Saqsaywaman and Ollantaytambo, are, due to their
grandeur and perfection, archaeological jewels which
reflect the greatness of Andean man.
Machu Picchu located in the province of Urubamba,
close to the Collpani valley, at an altitude of 2,330
masl, and surrounded by exuberant vegetation, adorned by
the most diverse and colorful orchids, Machu Picchu was
discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Some scientists
believe that Machu Picchu was a fortress; others, that
it was a citadel or monastery. What is beyond doubt
however, is the skill of the Inca architects who built
it. Machu Picchu has clearly differentiated sectors,
such as an agricultural area, squares, living quarters,
watchtowers, observatories, and a sundial, amongst
others.
The trapezoidal doors and windows stand out, as do the
roofs, which have one or two sides, and which, in Inca
times, were covered with tree trunks and "ichu" (a local
straw). Due to its unique archaeological value, UNESCO
has declared Machu Picchu Cultural Patrimony of
Humanity.To get to the site, you must take a three hour
train ride to Aguas Calientes, a small town at the foot
of the mountain where Machu Picchu is situated, and then
a 30 minute bus ride up the mountain. If you are a
trekking enthusiast you can reach the citadel on a
four-day trek along an ancient roadway, the Inca Trail.
CUSCO - PERU
SACSAYHUAMAN
Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park
Sacsayhuaman covers an area of 3,000 hectares, two
kilometers north of Cusco. The site is considered
unique in the world due to its singular architectural
characteristics.
In building Sacsayhuaman, the Incas used stone
blocks of up to 9 meters high and 5 meters wide, each
fitting perfectly with the other. The fortress has an
area of approximately 360 meters and has doors,
galleries and watchtowers at strategic points.
Apart from the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the
archeological park also contains the sites of Q'Enqo or
Kenko ("labyrinth"), a center for ceremonies worshipping
the Pachamama ("mother earth"); the Puca Pucara or "Red
Fort" and Tambomachay or the Inca Bath, built to worship
the element of Water.
CUSCO - PERU
OLLANTAYTAMBO
Ollantaytambo,
97 kms. from Cusco, was an administrative,
social, religious and agricultural center in Inca times.
The site, and the town of the same name, is a must-see
amongst the many sites of interest along the Sacred
Valley of the Incas. The valley runs along the banks of
the Urubamba or, in Quechua, "Wilcamayu" River.
It's astounding natural beauty is further accentuated
and embellished by the many pre-Hispanic ruins found all
along its course.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is comprised of the towns
of Pisaq (32 kilometers from Cusco) where there
is a pre-Colombian settlement and stepped terraces;
Calca (50 kilometers from Cusco), famous for the
sulfurous thermal-medicinal springs of Machacancha ;
Yucay, where the advanced agricultural engineering
skills of the Incas can be appreciated; and Urubamba,
the heart of the valley, and ideal for adventure
tourism.
