TOURISM IN PERU

ATTRACTIONS IN CUSCO PERU

CHURCHES AND CONVENTS

THE CATHEDRAL: 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: Without doubt, it is one of the most beautiful samples of the Spanish architectonic superimposed on the Inca constructions. This church was raised on the Coricancha or Temple of the Sun.

LA COMPAÑÍA DE JESUS: Or Jesuit Cathedral, it is a splendid stone building 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, it is famous as the home of the shrine of Our Lady of La Merced, decorated with gold and precious stones.

MACHU PICCHU


Discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, it is in the province of Urubamba, near the valley of Collpani to 2.330 m.a.s.l. and it is surrounded by exuberant vegetation, adorned by the most diverse and colorful orchids. Some students think that it was a fortress; others, however, consider that citadel was a monastery of which there is no doubt, it is the skill of the Inca architects who built it.

The access to Machu Picchu, declared Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity, you must take approximately three hours in train and soon 20 minutes in bus or if you are a lover of the long walks can do it on foot, crossing during four days an old Way Inca who leads to citadel.

SACSAYHUAMAN: Archaeological park, it has an extension of 3.000 hectares. By its characteristics, this fortress - sanctuary, located to two kilometers to the north of the Cusco, is considered only in the world.

OLLANTAYTAMBO: Archaeological Park to 97 kilometers of the city of Cusco. During the Inca time it was administrative center, social, religious and agricultural.
Ollantaytambo is one of the attractiveness that when is crossing the denominated Sacred Valley of the Incas - in the shores of the river Urubamba or Wilcamayu- a corner of walks of particular beauty clarified by pre-Hispanic rest.

THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS: it is formed by the towns of Pisaq (32 kilometers of the Cusco), where it exists a pre-Columbian slums; Granary (50 kilometers of the Cusco), famous by the medicinal thermal-medicinal of Machacancha (sulfurous thermal waters), Yucay where it is appraised the skill and the advance of the Incas in the referred thing to agricultural engineering; and Urubamba, the heart of the valley and ideal for the adventure tourism.