The Cathedral, on the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), is a
beautiful construction, carved from stone, showing the
skill and imagination of the "puneño" builders,
who knew how to create their own style. The Dreyer
Municipal Museum has priceless pre-Inca pottery,
textiles and instruments made in gold and silver on
display, with objects from the Tiahuanaco culture,
having pride of place.
Archeological Remains
Sillustani,
34 kms. from Puno, is one of the largest
archeological areas in America. The chullpas, impressive
burial monuments standing over 12 meters high, were
built by the Collas people.
UROS AND TAQUILE ISLAND
Lake Titicaca - Puno
Titicaca National Reserve,
was created in 1978 to preserve 37 thousand hectares of
marsh reeds in the south and north sectors of Lake
Titicaca. The reserve is divided into two sections,
Ramis, in the provinces of Huancané and Ramis; and
Puno, in the province of the same name.
The reserve is home to dozens of native bird species
(over 60 species in total between resident and migratory
birds), fish (4 different families) and amphibians (18
native species). There are three islands in the lake,
Huaca Huacani, Toranipata and Santa María.
The Island of the Uros,
north of the bay of Puno, is made almost entirely
of "totora" (marsh reeds), andconsequently is one of the world's most unique tourist
attractions. Inhabited by two thousand Uros, who claim
to be "kot-suña" (the people of the lake), and so have
black blood, cannot drown and never feel the cold. For
this reason - they claim - they are great fishermen.
The Island of Taquile,
35 kilometers to the east of Puno, with an area
of six square kilometers, is the largest of the islands
found in the lake and has an interesting variety of
microclimates. The town of Taquile (3,950 m.a.sl.) has
some Tiahuanaco and Inca ruins. Furthermore, the Inca
moral principles Ama Sua (Do not steal), Ama Quella (Do
not lie), and Ama Lulla (Do not be lazy) are still
observed by the inhabitants. Should one of the thousand
plus inhabitants break these rules, the islands
community authorities may even banish the lawbreaker as
punishment.
