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The Sacred Valley of the Incas
The area of the valley between Pisac and Ollantaytambo is
known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is a long narrow valley which, in the southern
region, goes back up to Urcos and towards the north, crossing Ollantaytambo before it
finally reaches the citadel of Machu Picchu. Over the years, the power of the Incas became
more and more firmly implanted. The terraces are a testimony of the vast production of
food, and the Ollantaytambo ruins reflect the ambitious plans of the leaders of
Cusco. The
best time to visit is April-May or September-October , the high season is
June-August. The
rainy season , from October to March, is cheaper and pleasant enough.
Pisac and its citadel
Pisac is approximately 32 kilometers from the city of Cusco. This area features traditional walls of carved stone, large homes (casonas) and
ritual buildings, with a complex structure of terraces and irrigation channels. Pisaq is
well known for its crafts market that are only open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays. The trek to the ruins begins from the plaza which crosses the
terraced gardens. The beauty of the scenery is spectacular. When you climb to the central
part of the ruins, you will reach The Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Moon and the carved stone
referred to as Intihuatana. All of these structures express evident astronomical concerns. The area reserved for
what could be called storehouses or granaries demonstrates the importance the Incas granted
to the conservation of the crops.
From Pisac to Urubamba
From Pisac, following the Vilcanota River towards the
west, the narrow route between the river and the hills passes through the towns of Calca,
Yucay and Urubamba before arriving at Ollantaytambo. Yucay is associated with some
important events in Incan and colonial history. In the spacious Plaza de Armas,
you will find a
beautiful, impressive tree, the pisonay, whose leafy branches and beautiful flowers grant
the town an air of festivity and elegance. The ruins of the Palace of the Inca Huayna
Capac can also be found in this area. Urubamba is not located far from here.
Like many
places along the valley, Urubamba is in a fine setting with snow-capped peaks in
view. It
has many restaurants and pleasant dining areas with reasonable prices. The nearby White
Mountain range provides the area with scenery of extraordinary beauty. The town offers the
visitor a wide range of possibilities for rest and lodging, and includes a number of
hotels and similar lodging options.
Ollantaytambo
The town of Ollantaytambo is located on the opposite end
of the Pisac Valley. The flights of terraces leading up above the town are
superb. Likewise, the curving terraces following the contours of the rocks overlooking the
Urubamba are impressive.
This was one of the last areas in which construction was performed by the Incas before the
arrival of the Spaniards. Many of the buildings begun in pre-Hispanic times were left
unfinished. The abandoned stones and unfinished walls remain as testimonies of the battle
in which Manco Inca faced when the Spanish conquistadors arrived. Overcome by the invaders, the Incas
fled to the Vilcabamba jungle, an area that served as a final refuge for what remained of the
political legacy of the Incas.
Chinchero
Chinchero is located between Urubamba and Cusco. This area
is well known for its ruins and for the lovely church where one can find many paintings
from the Cusco school. It is also an appropriate region to view the splendid snow-capped
peaks in the surrounding area. The church houses works of art and mural paintings by
Diego Cusi Guamān, as well as several canvasses by other artists. The main altarpiece is
from the seventeenth century and represents the Virgin of Montserrat, to whom the church
is dedicated.
Maras salt flats and the circular ruins in
Moray
Maras, from which one can reach the salt flats and the
Moray ruins, is located on the northwestern side before entering the city of
Cusco. The
salt flats display a spectacle of unusual beauty. Located on a wide-open hill above the
Urubamba Valley, the salt water runs along channels, which extend through the flooded
lands and follow a more or less rectangular pattern, depending on the variations in the
land. The water, which is exposed to the sun, leaves salt on the bed. Viewed from the
peak, the myriad of rectangles look like an enormous painting designed by
nature. Inland,
not far from Maras, one can find the Moray ruins. There are three "colosseums" ,
used by the Incas as a sort of open-air crop laboratory. The terraces arranged in
concentric circles and spread out at intervals from the lower to the upper
region are
reminiscent of a Greek theatre. For this reason, it is not clear exactly what role they
played. The structure of these terraces seems to suggest agricultural activity which
employed the air circulation within the circular area and the advantages offered by this
type of construction for employing ram water as well as water from nearby regions. |
Ruins of Pisaq
Market of Pisaq
Maras salt flats
Ruins of Moray
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