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.
