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Cusco

Convent of Santo Domingo - Koricancha

The combined sacred sites of Koricancha and Santo Domingo in Cusco vividly illustrate ancient Andean culture's collision with Western Europe. The temple of one culture sits atop and encloses the other. The extraordinarily crafted Temple of the Sun at Koricancha was the most sumptuous temple in the Inca Empire. Koricancha also served as the main astronomical observatory for the Incas. The temple complex was a glittering palace straight out of El Dorado legend: Koricancha means "courtyard of gold" in Quechua. In addition to hundreds of gold panels lining its walls, there were life-size gold figures, solid-gold altars, and a huge golden sun disc. This disc reflected the sun and bathed the temple in light. During the summer solstice, the sun still shines directly into a niche where only the Inca chieftain was permitted to sit. Much of Koricancha's wealth was removed to pay ransom for the captive Inca Atahualpa at the time of the Spanish conquest. After the Spaniards looted the temple and emptied it of gold, the exquisite polished stone walls were used as the foundations of the Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo, forming perhaps Cusco's most jarring imperial-colonial architectural juxtaposition. The Baroque church of Santo Domingo pales next to the fine stonemasonry of the Incas, which is the main attraction of this site. In an ingenious restoration to recover both buildings after the 1953 earthquake, a large section of the cloister has now been removed, revealing four original chambers of the temple.

The mortarless masonry, earthquake-proof trapezoidal doorways, curved retaining wall, and exquisite carving exemplify the Inca artistic and engineering skills. Stand on the small platform in the first chamber to see the perfect symmetry of openings in the stone chambers. A series of Inca stones displayed reveals the fascinating concept of male and female blocks, and how they fit together. The 6m (20-ft.) curved wall beneath the west end of the church, visible from the street, remains undamaged by repeated earthquakes and is perhaps the greatest example of Inca stonework. The curvature and fit of the massive dark stones is astounding.

District of San Blas

The district consists of a maze of steep alleyways running past old Inca buildings and colonial mansions. This is one of the most picturesque quarters of Cusco and has a long history of tradition. It is also known as the artisans’ quarter and is where some of the best-known craftsmen, like Mendívil and Mérida, have their workshops.

The Church of San Blas, which gives the district its name, was built in 1563, one of its most outstanding features being its wooden pulpit carved in the opulent baroque style.

Pisac

Pisac is an important archaeological center that encompasses the mystical Incan constructions, in contrast to the natural richness of the Urubamba Valley Situated 31 km from Cusco at the entrance to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

It is well known for its Sunday market. After Machu Picchu, its ruins are the best preserved and composed of terraces separated by groups of buildings (fortresses, housing areas, esplanades, food storehouses, temples, etc.). The most important temple was built around the Intihuatana, a rock that acts as a sundial. The temple construction is of extraordinarily well-crafted stone.


Round Trips	Regional Trips	Adventure Trips	Luxury Tours

Discover the Empire of the Incas 5 D / 4 N - from $639 Best of the Andes and exotic jungle 10 D / 9 N - from $1189 Best of the Andes and exotic jungle II 9 D / 8 N - from $1159 Best of the Andes 10 D / 9 N - from $1029 Peru Overview 15 D / 14 N - from $1689	Lima, City of Kings 5 D / 4 N - from $199 The Enigma of the Nazca Lines and the Beauty of the Paracas National Reserve 2 D / 1 N - from $239 Discover the Empire of the Incas 4 D / 3 N - from $479 Life at Lake Titicaca 3 D / 2 N - from $209 The great Colca Canyon and the big condor 4 D / 3 N - from $279 Exotic Southern Jungle 3 D / 2 N - from $329 Upper Amazonas 4 D / 3 N - from $329 The Lord of Sipan & Chan Chan 2 D / 1 N - from $419	Rafting at the Urubamba 5 D / 4 N - from $2589 Follow the Inca path 7 D / 6 N - from $1009 Classic Inca Trail 4 D / 3 N - from $2589 Salcantay Trek to Machu Picchu 5 D / 4 N - from $2589	"Our luxury trips offer the best Peru has to offer. These packages are aimed at the more discerning client who wishes to have the more personal or private touch to their holiday. More info"

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