Machu Picchu the Lost City of the Incas

.
Machu Picchu (Machu's Quechua, old, and Picchu mountain, that is, "Old Mountain") is the contemporary name given to an llaqta (former Inca Andean village) mainly built of stone in the middle of the fifteenth century in the rocky promontory joining the mountain Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu in the eastern slopes of the central Andes, south of Cuzco in Peru. His original name was Picchu or Picho.

According to documents from the mid-sixteenth century, Machu Picchu was one of the residences rest of Pachacútec (first Incan emperor, 1438-1470). However, some of its finest buildings and the obvious nature of the ceremonial main access route to the llaqta demonstrate that it was used as a religious shrine. The two uses, the palace and shrine, would not have been inconsistent.

Some experts seem to have ruled out, however, an alleged military nature, so the popular epithets of "strength" or "citadel" could have been overcome. Machu Picchu is considered both a masterpiece of architecture and engineering. Its unique architectural features and landscaping, and the veil of mystery that has woven around him much of the literature published on the site, have made him one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet.

Machu Picchu is on the List of World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1983 as part of a whole set cultural and eco-known under the name of Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Cusco. On July 7, 2007 Machu Picchu was chosen as one of the new wonders of the world at a ceremony held in Lisboa, Portugal.

For its antiquity and significance, the center of the city of Cusco retains many buildings, plazas and streets of pre-Columbian times as well as colonial buildings, which led to it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

Among the main sites of interest of the city are: Barrio de San Blas This neighborhood where the artisans, workshops and craft shops, is one of the most picturesque sites in the city. Its streets are steep and narrow with old mansions built by the Spaniards on important Incan foundations.

It has an attractive square and the parish's oldest Cuzco built in the year 1563, which has a carved wooden pulpit regarded as the ultimate expression of colonial Cusco. The Quechua name for this neighborhood is to Toq'ocachi which means the hole of the Sal. Calle Hatun Rumiyuq This is the most visited by tourists. On the street Hatun Rumiyoq ( "From the Rock Mayor") was the palace of Inca Roca, which currently belongs to the Archbishop's Palace. In this street that runs from the Plaza de Armas to the neighborhood of San Blas, you can appreciate the enigmatic stone of the twelve angles.

Church and convent of La Merced Because of the earthquakes occurred in this city, the Convent of Mercy Church and has been rebuilt more than once. Originally dating from the sixteenth century. Its cloisters of Baroque and Renaissance highlight in particular the choir stalls, colonial paintings and wood carvings. You can also view a custodial gold and precious stones, 22 kilograms of weight and height of 130 centimeters.

Cathedral of Cuzco In fact, the first cathedral of Cuzco is the Church of Triumph, built in 1539 on the basis of the palace of the Inca Viracocha. At present, this church is a chapel assistant to the cathedral. Between the years 1560 and 1664 the basilica cathedral was built in this city. To do this, the Spaniards did bring blocks of red granite from the fortress known as Sacsayhuaman. This cathedral facade of the Renaissance and Baroque interior and plateresque boasts one of the most outstanding samples of colonial goldsmith. Equally important are its carved wooden altars. Since in this city was painting on canvas at the so-called "Cusco School of painting," precisely in the cathedral you can see samples of important local artists of the time. It is headquarters of the Archdiocese of Cuzco.

Plaza de Armas in Cuzco "Plaza of the warrior" was called in time of the Incas. The square was the scene of several important events in the history of this city, as part of the proclamation by Francisco Pizarro in the conquest of Cuzco. Also, the Plaza de Armas was the scene of the death of Tupac Amaru II, considered the leader of Indian resistance. The Spanish built in a square stone arches, labor Cuzco, which endures to date. Here are the Cathedral and the Church of The Company.

Plaza de Armas in Cuzco at the moment Church of the Company This church whose construction began the Jesuits in 1576 on the basis of Amarucancha or palace of the Inca Huayna Capac, is considered one of the finest examples of colonial baroque style of the American continent. Its facade is carved in stone, as can be seen in the photo, and its high altar is of carved wood and covered with gold leaf. It was built on an underground chapel. Additionally, two chapels, that of Lourdes and the old oratory of St. Ignatius of Loyola. This temple has a valuable collection of paintings of colonial Cusco School.

Coricancha and Convent of Santo Domingo. The Qoricancha was the most important shrine dedicated to the sun god at the time of the Inca Empire. This temple was named the site of gold because all its walls were covered with sheets of gold by the Incas. Taking this structure as a basis, here are built the Convent of Santo Domingo, Renaissance style. The building, one-Baroque tower, was on the other tall buildings in this city. Inside there is a large collection of paintings of the Cusco School of painting. Between others turistic atractions of this magic city of Peru.