Cultural sightseeing in Peru

The heritage of the Incas and pre-Inca states most of all attract tourists to Peru. Ruins of temples, palaces and residential buildings of highly developed ancient civilizations, museums that contain archaeological finds and artifacts are the main tourist attractions of the country. The Inca Empire existed from the XI to the XVI century. It occupied a large territory. The Incas received some of the achievements and cultural heritage from the States of Moche, Huari, Nazca, Chan-Chan, Pukina, and Chachapoyas.

The Nazca lines on the namesake plateau are located in the southern part of the country. More than 30 drawings, as well as various lines and spirals, are located in a huge space. They are executed with great accuracy. The execution of drawings required extreme skill from the ancient workers. They can only be seen from the air. This fact was the reason for their late discovery. The purpose and technique of drawing drawings are still unknown. It is better to take part in an organized tour to view the images in the best possible way. Tourists fly around the desert of the Nazca plateau by plane during this tour.

Machu Picchu is an Inca city that existed for just over a hundred years. It was built by the emperor Pachacuti as a residence-sanctuary. There was a palace complex, the houses of the nobles of the Empire, and a temple complex in the city. Machu Picchu is a real mystery. The city was abandoned by the inhabitant. But archaeologists have not yet found out the reasons for this, as well as its real name. The city is located high in the mountains, at an altitude of 2450 m above sea level. Therefore, it was not destroyed and looted by the conquistadors. It was discovered by scientists only at the beginning of the XX century. The city is built using construction technologies that amaze even modern people. Buildings built on slopes are stable. The stone blocks are carefully fitted. The buildings fit into the surrounding landscape. You should combine a visit to Machu Picchu with a climb to the mountain Huayna Picchu. Ancient steps lead there. The number of tourists who can visit the attraction per day is limited. Therefore, it is better to buy tickets through the Internet in advance. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Sacsayhuaman is a fortress and temple complex in Cusco, built by the Incas. Construction began in the XV century. The complex consists of three tiers of walls today. They are made in the technique of cyclopean masonry from giant stone blocks. The largest of them weigh more than 3000 tons. They were delivered from a distance of several tens of kilometers. Some archaeologists believe that the walls existed before the Incas, who built several places of worship inside the walls.

Cusco is one of the most important centers of the Inca Empire. The ruins of the Coricancha (Temple of the Sun) have survived to this day. The Church of St. Dominic was built over them under the Spaniards. The same fate befell many other religious buildings and palaces of the nobility. The city looks unusual because of this. It shows a mix of Inca architecture and European architecture – Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance. One of the most interesting museums in Peru is located in the city. This is a Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. Exhibits relating to various pre-Columbian civilizations that existed on the territory of the country are located in 10 galleries there. The building itself is interesting. It is the former home of the Duke of Cabrera. It was built on the site of an Inca ceremonial complex.

If you want to see real Peruvian exotics, you should visit the island of Taquile on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. It seems that time has stopped here. Residents live by their own laws and moral rules. There is no crime, police, transport, cats, and dogs there. The main locality is located at an altitude of 3950 above sea level in the mountains. There are also no hotels here. Therefore, tourists stay in the homes of local residents.

Many ruins of ancient cities are located in the sacred valley of the Incas: Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, and Urubamba. The ruins of the Inca city of Moray are located at an altitude of 3500 meters just 50 kilometers from Cusco. The city is famous for its unusual rounded terraces. Disputes about the purpose of the strange complex are still ongoing. Agricultural purpose is the most likely version.

One of the most extraordinary natural attractions in the world is located 100 kilometers from Cusco in Peru. These are the Rainbow Mountains. They consist of red sandstone. It has acquired different colors under the influence of natural disasters and climatic conditions. You can admire the mountains and the Ausangate Glacier from a height of 5200 meters above sea level. The easiest way to explore the mountains is to become a part of an organized tour.

Lima is the capital of Peru. This is a fairly large megalopolis. The Historic Centre is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Most of the buildings are built in the colonial style, as well as in the Creole (Mestizo) style. The Natural History Museum and the National Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology are the most interesting. You should also visit the Cathedral with the tomb of Pizarro and the complex dedicated to Saint Francis. The largest fountain complex in the world is located in the Parque de la Reserva.