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Quarter Day Excursions at Cusco | Inkaterra
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Quarter Day Excursions at Cusco
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CATHEDRAL Take an intimate tour of the Cusco Cathedral and get to know this superb symbol of the city closely, including its 11 chapels, 1 vestry, 7 altarpieces and 1 lower chorus completely carved in cedar wood from Cusco, more than 300 paintings, and a variety of carvings and sculptures. The highlight of all these is the Main Altar, covered entirely with layers of silver and the Silver Chariot, mounted on a pedestal, still used for procession during the religious festival of Corpus Christi.
Difficulty Level: I Recommended for children |
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SACSAYHUAMAN Visit Cusco’s most impressive Inca fortress, which was dedicated to the Sun cult, to understand the forces that guided the Incas to be powerful in the region during 14th and 15th centuries. This archaeological site is one of the most astounding Inca constructions with tons of enormous stones carved and built together to a minute precision. It is probably the most important ceremonial center dedicated to the sun, and not just a fort, where every 24th of June, the Inti Raymi festival is celebrated to honor the Sun god.
Difficulty Level: I Recommended for children |
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MAP (Museo de Arte Pre-Colombino) MUSEUM See the best Pre-Colombian art and archaeological pieces set in a beautiful Viceroyalty house with a large inner courtyard, located in the Plazoleta Las Nazarenas right beside La Casona Inkaterra. This museum used to be the convent of Santa Clara until the seventeenth century. In 2003, it opened its doors as the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art - MAP. This extraordinary Cusco historic monument holds the only museum in Peru dedicated to recover the arts of ancient Peruvian cultures. The collection of 450 master pieces dates from 1250 B.C to 1532 A.D. The exhibition uses texts in Spanish, English and French to emphasize the artistic context of the collection displayed in 11 showrooms. Its galleries were designed to meet the highest standards of modern museography enabling the visitors to admire Pre-Columbian art in its best expression. Map Café is on the main patio where novo-andino cuisine is offered.
Difficulty Level: I |
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KORICANCHA TEMPLE Visit one of the most important temples in the Incan Empire dedicated to Wiracocha, Sun god or creator. This temple became Catholic when the Spanish conquerors built over it the convent and church of Santo Domingo. Its former pre-Inca construction of adobe and unpolished quartz lasted until the 12th century and when the Incas took over, they call it Koricancha ("courtyard of gold"). The Church of Santo Domingo was built using the ruined foundations of the temple that were flattened by the Spanish in the 17th century and is a fine example of where Inca stonework has been incorporated into the structure of a colonial building. Major earthquakes have severely damaged the church, but the Inca stone walls, built out of huge, tightly-interlocking blocks of stone, still stand thanks to its sophisticated stone masonry.
Difficulty Level: I Recommended for children |
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SAN BLAS Visit San Blas, one of Cusco’s most picturesque communities, characterized by steep narrow streets that zigzag among old colonial houses constructed with walls of Inca stone. From colonial times to the present day, the arts and crafts tradition of San Blas has been passed from one generation to the next. The people of Cusco are justly proud of the great wealth of arts found here, where you will discover sculpture, pottery, paintings, jewelry, textiles, woodcarvings, stonework, religious art and antiques.
Difficulty Level: I Recommended for children |
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REGIONAL HISTORICAL MUSEUM Discover one of the most visited museums of the imperial city, birthplace of the renowned mestizo author Garcilaso Inca de la Vega. The grand colonial house was converted into Regional Historical Museum in 1946, a reliquary of colonial arts, located less than two blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Browse its thematic displays of history rich eras and get to know the life of the famous mestizo son of Cusco, Garcilaso. The Museum also houses a collection of paintings from the Cusco School of Arts, wood sculptures by Bernardo Bitti, historical documents, pre-Inca and Inca textiles, agricultural tools and musical instruments, as well as valuable art from the colonial and Republican periods.
Difficulty Level: I |
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SANTA CATALINA CONVENT AND CHURCH Built by the Spanish between 1601 and 1610 on top of Aqllawasi, Inca house of chosen women (House of Virgins) dedicated to the sun cult, the Santa Catalina monastery was founded by Isabel Rivera de Padilla the same originator who established the first in Arequipa. The church and the convent house an interesting collection of colonial and religious art such as paintings from Cusco School of Arts, emphasizing the union of both Inca and Spanish culture. In addition to baroque frescoes depicting Inca flora, the chapel also houses macabre statues of Jesus, beautifully painted arches, and 17th century tapestries. Perhaps the highlight of this site is a trunk of 3D nativity figurines.
Difficulty Level: I Recommended for children |
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THE SOCIETY OF JESUS CHURCH (Iglesia La Compañía de Jesus) The Church of the Society of Jesus was founded by the Jesuits in late 16th century on the site of Amarukancha, the palace of Huayna Capac. Originally to rival the cathedral, its imposing façade is one of the finest examples of colonial baroque style. Among the outstanding religious art works, stand out the ornately carved gold leafed High and side altars, canvas paintings of Saint Ignatius of Loyola by Marcos Zapata, Christ’s crucifixion by Burgos and wedding paintings of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s nephews, one a true mestizo symbol, the union between Inca royalty and Spanish conqueror.
Difficulty Level: I Recommended for children |
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QENKO, PUCA PUCARA & TAMBOMACHAY Visit Cusco’s important archaeological ruins. First stop is Q’enko, which means “labyrinth” and contains two ruins: Qenko Grande, which is located at the bottom of the road, and Qenko Chico. These are Inca temples with underground galleries and small canals made of rocks in zigzag form. Continue to Puca Pucará located seven kilometers northeast of the city, its Quechua name means “red fortress”; it was a military construction composed of elevated terraces, inner patios, aqueducts, watch towers, high walls and stairways. Your last stop is Tambomachay, its Quechua words Tampu means lodging or inn, and Machay, means a resting place. Formed by stone structures, aqueducts, waterfalls, springs and thermal sources, it is commonly referred to as the Baños del Inca or Inca baths, former site for ritual bathing by the royal Incas.
Difficulty Level: I Recommended for children |
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