Choquequirao

THIS CITADEL IS LOCATED AMONG MOUNTAINS OF DIFFICULT ACCESS AND COVERED BY LUSH VEGETATION. DURING ALMOST FOUR CENTURIES, IT REMAINED SURROUNDED BY SILENCE. TODAY, THIS IMPORTANT POLITICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND RELIGIOUS INCAN CENTER IS CONSIDERED AN ARQUEOLOGICAL SITE WITH THE MOST TOURISTIC POTENTIAL IN PERU.

Data:
Choquequirao is located in the Cusco Region, inside the Apurimac's river basin, at a height of 3,050 meters a.s.l.
Its construction is attributed to the successors of Inca Pachacutec: Tupac Inca Yupanqui (1471 – 1493) and Wayna Capac (1493 – 1527). It is believed that it was a Resistance center for Manco Inca's armies after the Spanish Conquest.

The oldest references about the Choquequirao ruins date from the 19th Century . They were visited by the Count of Sartiges, a French adventurer, during 1834 and 13 years later by Mr. Leonce Angrand, a portrait painter, who was the French vice-consul in Peru. The site remained forgotten until 1909, when Hirarn Bingham, accompanied by Apurimac natives, visited again the ruins and he raised the awareness about it's importance. But it wasn't until1960, when the Peruvian government initiated the first works of cleaning and conservation of the site.

CHOQUEQUIRAO, THE LAST REFUGE
LOCATED IN THE VILCABAMBA'S MOUNTAIN CHAIN, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ARCHEOLOGICAL INCA SITES. THIS SITE WAS VERY VALUABLE FOR THE RULERS OF THE TAHUANTINSUYO EMPIRE.

CHOQUEQUIRAO'S FUNCTION
The most widely spread theory is that Choquequirao was, together with other sites in the Vilcabamba valley, the bastion of Incan resistance against the Spanish conquerors. According to this theory, mentioned by some archeologists such as Mr. Luis Guillermo Lumbreras, in this site, the last Tahuantinsuyo rebels led by Manco Inca, son of Huascar, founded the Vilcabamba state and rebelled against the Spanish presence between 1536 and 1572.

ACCESS
There are two ways to get to Choquequirao: by helicopter or trekking. The walk can be started in Cachora, a small village in Abancay. There you can hire horses, mules or contract carriers, who also act as guides. The long walk that takes between 10 and 12 hours is generally made in two days. All together, the walk is around a sixty kilometers long route in the middle of very wild territories. At the end of the first day, you will sleep in a camp site near the Apurimac River.
Several tourism agencies offer alternative routes that can take up to 10 days and 9 nights. The longest begins in the town of Mollepata, located two hours by bus from the city of Cusco. After arriving at Choquequirao, the route finishes in Cachora. In this place, it is possible to take cars that return to Cusco or Abancay. Another option is to start off from Cachora, arrive to Choquequirao and continue with a one hundred kilometer long walk, to get to Machu Picchu.

USEFUL INFORMATION
The best time to visit Choquequirao is between the months of May and November, which is the region's dry season when there is no rain. It is indispensable to carry good camping equipment, which must include a tent, sleeping bag, flashlight and batteries, a good pair of trekking shoes and several pairs of socks. Besides, because of the physical effort that the walk demands, it is advisable to carry enough water bottles.

The Historical Center Of Lima

"THE CITY OF KINGS" WAS FOUNDED TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT CAPITAL OF THE SPANISH EMPIRE IN SOUTH AMERICA. THE BEAUTY OF THE BUILDINGS OF THIS HISTORICAL CENTER INCLUDES BALCONIES WITH LATTICE WINDOWS, A CATHEDRAL, AND A MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAIN SQUARE, ALL OF WHICH FORM PART OF IT`S VALUABLE LEGACY.

Data:
- The Conqueror Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Lima on

  January 18th, 1535.
- The Historical Center of Lima was declared Cultural Heritage of

  Mankind In 1991 by UNESCO.

THE MAIN SQUARE
The Main Square of Lima, surrounded by the Government Palace, the City Council, the Archbishop's Palace and the Cathedral, is the oldest public space in the city. It was here where the Conqueror Francisco Pizarro performed the founding ceremony of Lima as a Spanish city. Many of the important events of our country's history have taken place in this square, such as the execution of the people condemned to death by the Tribunal of the Holy Inquisition and the Proclamation of our Independence in 1821.

THE BASILICA CATHEDRAL OF LIMA
The current Cathedral is the result of a series of modifications and reconstructions mainly due to the damages caused by the earthquakes in 1609, 1687 and 1746. It has a nave and two aisles and fourteen lateral chapels. The nave welcomes us with an impressive set of choir stalls with 53 images of saints carved on wood. The choir stalls surround the major altar with an impressive structure with pillars, all covered in gold plating, where the Tabernacle is placed. Other altars that excel are the ones of the Conception, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Domingo of Mogrovejo and the Virgin of Evangelization. The Cathedral also houses the Religious Art Museum, which has paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries and are from the Cusco, Lima and Ayacucho painting schools.

SAINT FRANCIS CHURCH
It is the most representative colonial architectonic group of buildings of the 17th century. It has a small square, a convent, and the Saint Francis church. The façade presents two towers painted in yellow. The church building has a nave and two lateral aisles, each one with seven altars. The convent has a main cloister decorated with blue Seville tiles. Below the church building there are underground galleries or catacombs, which during the Spanish Viceroys' rule served as cemeteries.

THE CATHEDRAL
Located at one side of the Main Square, dates from the beginning of the 17th century, although its façade had to be reconstructed during the 19th century due to the damages produced by the earthquake of the year 1869. Something similar happened after the earthquake of the year 2001. The Cathedral has a nave and two aisles. In the nave is a beautiful altar made of marble with chairs carved on wood but the most impressive piece is the pulpit together with its stairs. Besides the Cathedral, there are other churches of great architectonical value like the Saint Domingo church that has the oldest baroque façade of Arequipa; the church of the Jesuit order, its construction dates from the 16th century, and is the one kept in better conditions and the church La Merced , built with "Sillar" (white volcanic rock, typical from Arequipa). Other churches in the historical center of Arequipa are Saint Francis, Saint Agustin, Saint Theresa, Saint Martha and Saint Rose.

TRADITIONAL HOUSES
Also stands out is the house of Tristan del Pozo, whose façade is the most representative architectural exponent of the colonial times. Its façade has Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and Saint Ana monograms, carved in "sillar". Other architectural samples are the house of Moral that dates from the 17th century and the house of Arrospide whose main characteristic is to have on his façade images dedicated to the Sacred Family and gargoyles with puma top heads.

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
The main square is the city's most representative public space. It is a big square surrounded by arches and columns carved in granite and "sillar". It has gardens, stone slab floors and iron posts with three lamps. Another attraction of the historical center is the small square called Saint Francis which on one side shows the Franciscan chapel. At the center of this square above a pedestal there is a statue of Saint Francis of Asis. The little square of Saint Lazaro, where there is a shrine, is also a traditional public space. Opposite it, before the official foundation of the city, was the establishment of the first Spanish town in the year 1539.
Photos: (1) Cloister of the Jesuit order, (2) Sabandia mill. (3) The mirador of Yanahuara.
 

Web pages:
- AREQUIPA CITY COUNCIL: http://www.muniarequipa.gob.pe/chist/chist.html
- UNESCO: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1016
- OTHER: http://www.arequipa-tourism.com / http://www.santacatalina.org.pe/

Copyright © 2009 Domiruth Travel Service SAC. All rights reserved.

mharbaum@mac.com