Cusco was the capital of the great Inca Empire for 200 years, but excavations show that people lived in these places already 3000 years ago.

The Incas divided the territory of their empireTauantisuyu (in Quechua Tawantinsuyu, Tawantinsuyu , Tawantinsuyu, Tawantinsuyu, means “four cardinal directions connected together”)into 4 parts, in the center of which was their capital - Cuzco. They did not know other countries, they did not sail beyond the seas, their land for them was the whole world, and Cuzco was the center of this world. This explains one of the versions of the meaning of the name of the city, which can be translated from the Quechua language as “Center of the World, Navel of the Earth”. According to another version, the name of the city is translated as “Place of Ashes” - that is, the place where ritual sacrifices are made. It was in Cuzco during the time of the Incas that all the main temples were located and the most significant religious ceremonies also took place here.

How the Spanish conquistadors saw Cusco when they arrived here in 1533

It was a prosperous city with magnificent temples, squares and rich houses of members of the royal family, close associates and other nobility. The river Safi (Saphi) crossed the central square and divided the city into 2 parts: Upper (Hanan) and Lower (Urin) Cusco. The layout of Cuzco repeated the silhouette of one of the sacred animals - cougars. The head of the puma was the Saqsaywaman district, located above the level of the rest of the city.

Having settled in Cusco, the conquerors changed the face of the city, turning the Inca buildings into their mansions. Spanish houses were built on the foundations of previous buildings, the conquistadors took stones for their temples, dismantling the masonry of Inca buildings. In Cusco, a unique “mestiso” style was formed - a mixture of Andean and Spanish motifs - which we can observe today not only in architecture, but also in culture in general.

History of Cusco

According to Inca legend, the founder of the city was the first Inca Manko Qhapaq. According to one version, he left Lake Titicaca with his wife named Mama Oylla and went north to look for a place where his golden staff would easily enter the earth. Where he stuck the staff, the city of Cuzco appeared.According to another versionfour brothers and their four sister-wivesemerged from a cave on one of the islands of Lake Titicaca. One of the brothers was Manco Capac, who founded Cuzco and started the Inca Empire.

The history of the Great Empire of Tauantisuyu began in Cusco, and here it ended. This happened in 1572, when the Spanish conquistadors on the main square of the city beheaded the last representative of the Inca rulers - Inca Tupac Amaru (Thupaq Amaru).

TOP 11 attractions in Cusco - what to see in the city and around Cusco

Cusco - Chief tourist town Peru. It is from here that the most famous and interesting ones begin, from here starts, and many others.

In addition, there are a lot of interesting museums in Cusco.

1. Inca Museum (Museo Inca)

This museum is also called the Archaeological Museum of Cusco, as it contains artifacts that allow you to trace the history of Peru from the time of the pre-Inca civilizations, the Great Empire and the colonial period.

The building that houses the museum was built on the site of an Inca palace at the beginning of the 17th century and belonged to Admiral Francisco Aldrete Maldonado.

The museum is open daily.

Museum address: 103 Cuesta del Almirante, Cusco, Peru

2. Qoricancha Temple

During the time of the Incas, Coricancha (in Quechua, “Golden Fence”) was the richest temple. It was built in honor of the Sun God Inti, so its walls were lined with gold plates inlaid with precious stones. It was here that the mummies of the noble Incas were kept, which were used during religious ceremonies.After the conquest, the Spaniards built the Church of Santo Domingo on the ruins of the Temple of the Sun, but, fortunately, some parts of the original temple have been preserved and can be seen today.

The museum is open daily.

Museum address: Plaza Intipampa (between Av.El Sol and Calle Santo Domingo), Cusco, Peru

3. Coca Museum (Museo de la Coca)

Coca leaves were of great importance during the time of the Inca Empire and still continue to be an important element of Andean culture. In this museum, you can learn about the history and meaning of coca, how it is used, and much more.

Museum Address: Calle Suytuccatu 705, San Blas, Cusco, Peru

4. Cusco Planetarium

The height of 3350 meters above sea level, on which Cusco is located, brings this city closer to the sky and the Gods. The stars played a huge role in the development of all great civilizations, and the Inca Empire was no exception."Planetarium" is a company that organizes off-site evening excursions to a place where you can watch the stars. You will be told about the astronomy of the Incas, the most important constellations for them, about how the life of the inhabitants was connected with the movement of the stars, etc.

Tours run daily, but advance booking is required.

Planetarium website:http://www.planetariumcusco.com/

5. Chocolate Museum (Choco Museo)

Peru is a producer and exporter of cocoa beans. In 2010, at the main chocolate exhibition in Paris (Salon du Chocolat), cocoa beans from Peru were recognized as the most fragrant and received a prize.

At the Chocolate Museum in Cusco, everyone will be told about the process of chocolate production and will be offered to taste slab and hot chocolate. The museum holds chocolate making workshops and organizes trips to cocoa bean plantations.

Museum website: http://www.chocomuseo.com/english/our-locations/cusco-per/

6. San Pedro Central Market (Mercado Central de San Pedro)

This market is definitely worth a visit! Here you can spend the whole day wandering between the stalls with conceivable and unthinkable goods: souvenirs, alpaca sweaters, colored scarves, fresh fruits and vegetables, dozens of types of corn and potatoes, coffee, chocolate, cheese, bread, coca leaves by weight from huge bags , ingredients for traditional medicine- frogs that increase potency and various dried insects. And if the walk tires you, you can reinforce your strength with juice, which will be squeezed out right in front of you. Locals come to San Pedro for lunch too: traditional Peruvian dishes are prepared here and are quite inexpensive.

The market opens at 5:30 am and runs until 5:30 pm.

Neighborhood Cusco

7. Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park (Saqsaywaman, Sacsayhuaman)

The ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara make up the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park.

Sacsayuman, located on a mountain above the main districts of Cusco, was one of the parts of the city during Inca times. And if Cuzco itself was designed in the form of a silhouette of a cougar, Saksayuman served as the head of a cougar. Different sources disagree on the purpose of the area. For many years it was believed that there was a military fortification here. But modern researchers adhere to the version that it was a residential area with rich houses of the nobility, temples and squares where religious ceremonies were held.

Despite the fact that the Spaniards dismantled buildings and took stones to build their churches, the ruins of this area are amazing today! Walls 6-9 meters high, consisting of stone blocks perfectly fitted to each other, each of which weighs from 128 to 200 tons! It is believed that about 20,000 people were involved in the construction of this architectural complex.

It is here that every year on June 24, Inti Raymi is celebrated - the Festival dedicated to the God of the Sun.

Kenko (Kenko, Quenco, Q "inqu)

Located 3 km from Cusco towards the Sacred Valley. In Quechua, the name of this place means "serpentine, winding" - perhaps this name is associated with serpentine channels for water. Made in the form of an amphitheater, Kenko could be both an altar and a podium - the exact purpose is unknown. Here, as in several other sacred places, there is an observatory for observing the stars and tracking the equinox.

Tambomachay (Tambomachay)

The name Tambomachai in Quechua means "resting place". At 5-6 kilometers from Cuzco, a “water resort” was built for the Supreme Inca. Tambomachay was dedicated to the cult of water; magnificent canals, aqueducts, and cascades were created here. Excellent engineering skills allowed the builders to create 2 cascades, from which water flows at the same speed - if you put 2 bottles under them, they will fill up at the same time.

8. Statue of Christ (Cristo Blanco)

The statue of Christ is installed on a hill above Cusco, next to Sacsayhuaman. It was donated to Cuzco in 1945 by the Palestinians as a token of gratitude for the fact that Cuzco served them as a refuge during the Second World War.

9.

The name Tipon is a corruption of the Quechua word T'impuy, which means "where the water boils." The place was named so thanks to a large number underground sources.Researchers believe that the building was completed during the reign of Inca Viracocha, but judging by architectural style and the characteristics of the Tipon buildings closer to the Inca Pachacutec period.

Tipon was an agricultural research center. Striking geometric correctness in the construction of terraces. Magnificent canals for irrigation are still functioning, and this is a significant achievement of the Incas - even modern Peruvians do not know how to solve water problems so wonderfully.

Between harvests, festive ceremonies took place on the terraces.

10.

About 30 kilometers southeast of Cusco are the ruins of Piquillakta. From the Quechua language, the name of the city is translated as "city of fleas." Most likely, the name is a joke metaphor for the relatively small size of this place - "a tiny (flea-sized) city." Nevertheless, Pikiljakta was a very important cultural and administrative center of the pre-Inca Wari culture in the 6th - 9th centuries AD.

gone into the distant past, its splendor can only be judged by archaeological evidence, which, however, poses more questions than answers. The capital of the Inca Empire, the city of Cusco, is located in a deep mountain bowl at an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level. This city was founded around 1500 BC, and about 600 years ago it became a capital with thousands of houses. In the Inca language, which is still used in Peru today, the word "cuzco" means "center of the world." That is why the central part of the city's Plaza is called "chaupi" ("the center of the center of the Inca Empire"). There are many legends about the foundation of the city of Cusco, one of which tells the following.

At the beginning of the XII century, the leader of the new inhabitants who appeared in these parts, Manco Capac - "the son of the gods descended from the Sun", who later became the first Inca(supreme ruler), fired four stones from a sling in four different directions to build a city on such territory as his warriors could defend. So Cuzco began to grow and strengthen, and eventually turned into a capital filled with temples dedicated to pagan deities. The most grandiose construction of the city was the Temple of the Sun, access to which was allowed only to the ruler - Sapa Inca (The Only Inca). This temple housed a huge Golden Disc, inlaid with large emeralds and personifying the solar deity Inti.

With the Temple of the Sun, the halls of which were decorated with sheets of gold and numerous precious stones, only the Temple of the Moon, dedicated to the wife of Sapa Inca, could compete. Both of these temples, like most of the buildings of Cuzco, were erected from carefully fitted stone blocks to each other; between which a razor blade did not pass (which is very reminiscent of the technology for making the terrace of the temple of the city of Baalbek).

Inca Empire: Sacsayhuaman

In the vicinity of the capital of the Inca empire, there is the archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman... This is a stone fortification, consisting of 21 bastions, over which rise mighty towers, which were very effectively used by the Incas in the fight against the Spanish conquistadors. Sacsayhuaman, which in the Inca language means "stone-colored bird of prey", has long been considered a fortress. And if you look at it from above, then it really resembles a bird with its outlines. Under the ground of this complex there are many passages and rooms that could be used for sacrifices, as well as for consultations of the oracles who lived here. In addition, "rumor has it" that the Incas once hid some of their fabulous wealth from the Spaniards in these underground structures.

Whatever Sacsayhuaman really is - a military fortress or a religious cult center - this is a wonderful architectural monument of the pre-Columbian era, which is a mystery to scientists. The largest stones that form Sacsayhuaman are located in the lower part of its walls, the height of which is almost seven meters, and the weight of these stones reaches 120 tons! At the same time, the weight of the largest blocks that make up the fortress walls reaches 360 tons! On this moment there is no explanation how the ancient builders managed to lift such huge blocks of stone in order to build these powerful fortifications. Another mystery is the way these blocks are connected to each other. How did they manage to "weld" these blocks with each other, because neither cement nor any other adhesive substances were used during the laying? In connection with these questions, the Spanish historian Garciaso de la Vega noted the following: "... These three walls were erected as if by magic, created by demons, not people - there are so many stones in them and they are so huge ... It is impossible to believe that these the stones were hewn in quarries, as the Indians had neither iron nor steel tools to extract and hew them." Opposite the stone walls in Sacsayhuaman is the Throne of the Inca, which is a platform carved into the side of a rocky hill with a series of steps leading to it. It is difficult to say what purpose the Inca Throne had, however, it has perfectly executed precise corners and edges, which could not be achieved by traditional processing methods. Unfortunately, the Spanish colonialists used Sacsayhuaman as a "quarry" - they constantly took stones from there for their construction needs, so much in the capital of the Inca Empire was irretrievably lost, and the mystery of the builders of the city of Cuzco remained unsolved.

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Flight to Cusco
Cusco: Cusco means "navel of the earth" in the Quechua language. According to legend, the city was founded in the 12th century. the first Inca Manco Capac - the son of the sun, who symbolically marked his stay there with a golden rod stuck in the ground.
Temple of Coricancha. The "Temple of the Sun" was the most important temple of the Inca Empire. Destroyed after the invasion of the conquistadors. Currently, the ruins of the temple have been preserved in the center of the city of Cusco in Peru. After a strong earthquake in 1650, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) was built over them. The four former premises of the temple were used as a monastery. A strong earthquake in 1950 damaged the cathedral and exposed some of the ruins of the Inca temple.
Excursion. Once upon a time, it was here that the Incas held their main ritual celebration, the day of the winter solstice.
Mounting holes.
The most amazing thing about the Temple was not the gold with which it was covered, but the masonry that the builders used to bind the polygonal blocks. It was she who allowed all Inca structures to withstand the most destructive earthquakes. At the same time, the Cathedral of St. Domingo, erected on the masonry of the Incas, was destroyed twice, and it had to be rebuilt.
window system.
A unique stone processing that requires high-tech equipment.
And in one of the rooms, guides like to show the smallest stone, which the builders apparently used as a “patch”.
Frescoes of the Monastery of Santo Domingo
Inner courtyard of the monastery. In the center, a ritual well from the pre-Inx era has been preserved.
The action of the Peacemakers, the courtyard of the monastery in the form of a natural neutralizer
Work with aetheric energy.
The action of the Peacekeepers, the VF stands below, and the peacekeepers are on the balconies of the monastery
Interesting technology
How is it done without special tools?
Coricancha was also an observatory from which the high priests observed the heavenly bodies.
Museum inside the monastery
Ancient sliding doors, they were with special mechanisms that have not been preserved, but the places where they were installed are visible This is not an ordinary gate .... Judge for yourself
The wall was built of slabs loosely laid one on top of the other and not fastened in any way. Individual stones were given a complex geometric shape, there is even a stone in the wall, which has 12 corners.
Masonry, with the naked eye you can see how the stones fit together and that nothing has happened to them for many many centuries in a place where there are always earthquakes. Masonry really seems incredibly complex. On the corner blocks, there are 12 corners and sides in the same plane. It is impossible to stick even a safety razor blade into the gaps at the joints of the blocks. Who among modern builders can repeat this? It remains a mystery how these huge blocks were delivered from distant quarries.
On an excursion.
Initially, the walls of the Korikancha temple were covered with seven hundred gold plates, weighing two kilograms each, and in the fence of the temple there was a golden garden in which golden lamas grazed, and a field of golden corn grew. They say that everything in it was made of gold and silver: fields of corn, fruit trees, animals, fabulous birds, lizards and snakes. Golden butterflies hung on thin golden threads, and the walls were twined with golden creepers. And all this was done in full size, causing admiration and delighting iK st. Coricancha. The walls of Coricancha were covered with such golden slabs, giving rise to rumors about the fabulous splendor of Coricancha. The Koricancha temple had a golden altar and a golden disc of the Sun God Inti.
When you fly here from the always grayish Lima, the city seems transparent, pierced by the sun and, although poor in oxygen, but somehow delicious air. Red-tiled roofs and cheerful carved balconies soften the stone weight of the city and give it lightness. That's why small town you can walk endlessly, in each building finding its own zest.
Cusco means "navel of the earth" in Quechua. It is from here, from central square cities, with imaginary lines, the Empire was divided into four districts, and all the roads went out from here. To paraphrase a well-known saying, it can be said without exaggeration that all the roads of the Inca Empire led to Cuzco.
The main square of Cusco, referred to in Inca times as Huakaipata, or “square of warriors”, was the venue for many of the most important events in the history of the city: here the conquistador Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco, here the leader of the local opposition movement, Tupac Amaru 1st, was killed . Also, the main square is the venue for a number of holidays and festivals. With the advent of the Spaniards, the main square of Cusco began to change, stone arches of amazing beauty appeared on it, preserved in their original form to this day.
Cathedral of Cusco
Built on the ruins of the Inca Temple of the Sun
In this temple, different epochs and cultures are directly visible, Sink walls, Catholic luxury of painting, and a mahogany hall Cathedral decoration.
Cathedral in Cusco By the way, sitting on the right below Judas, with a bag of money clutched in his fist, Zapak depicted in the form of Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru.
The decoration of the Cathedral, unusual vaults for a Catholic church
Symbolism in the Cathedral.
Sacsayhuaman (Quechua Saksaywaman - lit. A well-fed falcon or a well-fed hawk; in the Spanish transcription Sacsayhuaman) is a ceremonial complex in Cusco, erected, according to legend, by the first Inca Manco Capac. In plan, Cusco, reminiscent of a cougar, is her teeth.
The fortress lies on an artificially leveled mountain top and surrounded by three outer protective walls, 1,500 feet long and 54 feet wide. In the center of the fortress is a round stone structure - the solar calendar of the great Incas. The ruins also include a huge water storage pool, storage barrels, citadels, and underground chambers.
On an excursion.
Sacsayhuaman is one of the most mysterious buildings, indeed, if you look closer, the stones fit so tightly to each other that it is impossible to stick a knife blade between them.
In the fortress there are stones of 50-200 tons.
The cardinal difference is in the laying and processing of stones. The new layout is chaotic, lacking such close contact, and the stones are much smaller in size. Compared to the fundamental bastions of Sacsayhuaman, these "bricks" look like child's play in the towns. Therefore, there is a point of view that the Incas have already come to a ready-made foundation built by other ... civilizations
As if the stones stuck to each other more than once withstood the strongest earthquakes that destroyed the houses built by the Spaniards.
We are here and now.
One of the largest buildings of the fortress is also made in the form of a zigzag, which symbolized the image of lightning or a snake. local legend says that the warrior placed his fist in the "head of the snake", which gave him "strength, courage and magical energy to defeat enemies"

According to one of the legends, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the cities of Cusco and Machu Picchu were built by viracochas - white bearded demigod aliens who owned the art of softening and hardening stone.
The walls had several trapezoid-shaped gates that could be locked with stone blocks. The fortress had three large towers, which housed troops whose task was to guard and protect Cuzco
In Peru, every big city has a statue of Issus on the mountain above the city, and Cusco is no exception.
Job
Job.
The rocks seem to be melted by an unknown radiation...
Under the fortress, catacombs were found, most likely leading to other structures of the Inca capital - the city of Cusco.
The dimensions of the stone blocks surprise even the worldly-wise...
Strange niches.
After the tour, as in the rest of the world, tourists are greeted by souvenir merchants.
"Kenko" - lit. "maze" - archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Kenko is often referred to as the "amphitheater" because of the monument's semi-circular layout. It served as an altar, tribune, or grave. It is assumed that the monument was one of the most important Inca sanctuaries.
The ritual stone of this Temple is a huge stone block, 5 m 90 cm in height, which looks like a cougar; Today it is half destroyed. According to one version, the stone, resembling the shape of a puma, was destroyed by the conquistadors, according to another, its shape resembled a phallus, which collapsed under the influence of earthquakes.
In this stone was the Guardian of this Temple.
We all asked him for permission to go to the temple, we are going in peace Inside this labyrinth is a hidden cave. In this cave, the Incas performed sacrifices. On the "table", carved from solid stone, they allegedly killed only animals. Nearby, ritual knives were kept in a niche, which have not survived to this day.
It is generally accepted that the Incas did not perform human sacrifices. However, during excavations in a niche under the sacrificial stone, human bones were also found among animal bones! During times of frequent earthquakes or solar eclipses here, the most beautiful virgins who devoted themselves to serving the Sun were sacrificed on this stone ... We connected with the altar with the MF
From the walls of Saxahuaman, a beautiful view of the valley in which the city of Cusco lies
The next morning, we go to Machu Picchu, the Andes are visible from the bus window. Andes in the language of the Incas - copper, copper mountains. The Andes are a major inter-oceanic watershed and serve as the most important South America climatic barrier that isolates the territories to the west of the Cordillera Main from the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, to the east - from the influence Pacific Ocean
We arrived at the station. From here we will take a comfortable train to Aguas Calientes
The train from Ollantaytambo runs once a day in the morning and then takes tourists back in the evening
Special van for tourists, you can look at high mountains, amazing landscapes outside the window, and the speed of weather change, in a few minutes from rain to bright sun, from thick fog to eye-catching brightness of colors. WF reminds about the purpose of the trip and about the thought form.
Along the way, we took many pictures of beautiful views. But the most important thing is that we moved along the Inca Road from Machu Picchu to Cusco - a wonderful example of the art of Inca builders. Even in the rainy season the road is in excellent condition. The entire empire was covered by a wide network of communications, approximately 40,000 km long. The roads in the state of the Incas were, first of all, of strategic importance - troops had to pass along them. In addition, they contributed to the cultural exchange between all areas of the state. Thanks to the roads, people learned from each other the art of ceramics, weaving, metalworking, architecture and construction, but it takes another 3 days to walk along it completely.
Passing the train past the buildings of the Inca era
A town at the foot of the Machu Picchu complex called Aguas Calientes. We boarded buses here and climbed a steep serpentine high uphill to the very foot of Machu Picchu
Once upon a time, priests, the highest nobility, artisans and servants lived in Machu Picchu, and most importantly, mamakunas, chosen virgins who devoted their lives to serving the sun god. With pedestrian alleys, sacred fountains and aqueducts still flowing with crystal clear water, this city has never known poverty.
The most important advantage of Machu Picchu is its unique beauty, mystery and proximity to the sun. The aestheticism of the Incas reached its peak in the creation of this perfect city. The harmony of strict geometric architectural forms and smooth lines of mountains and valleys surrounding Machu Picchu is striking. From whatever point you look at the city, it fits perfectly into the landscape. And it is not surprising that people come here not only for knowledge and impressions, but also for spiritual energy: it is here that they look for a connection with the cosmos and the universe, and miraculously find it in this place...
This ancient city The Incas are often referred to as the "city in the sky" or "the city among the clouds", and this is not surprising, because Machu Picchu is located on top of a mountain range, at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level. Here you can often see clouds right at the level of ancient buildings, so it seems that the city, like a bird, soars in the clouds.
Here are the Peacekeepers and Machu Picchu!
Dear Incas. The Incas did not know the wheel, and mountain roads were most often stepped. Those that passed along the ocean coast were specially fenced on both sides with adobe walls that protected from the sun, wind and sand drifts. If a marshy lowland was encountered on the way, an embankment was made. Stone bridges were built across the rivers and suspended rope bridges were thrown, which the Incas considered sacred objects - death awaited those who damaged the bridge.
view from Machu Pikchu, in translation - "old peak", on Mount Huyna Picchu (young mountain), one of the Peacemakers dared to climb it from one side of the altar of a man from the other woman - Peru, February 2012, Cusco" title=" Joint action with Yekaterinburg:
on one side of the altar, a man on the other, a woman - Peru, February 2012, Cusco" data-size="1280x853"> title="Joint action with Yekaterinburg:
on one side of the altar, a man on the other, a woman - Peru, February 2012, Cusco"> Действие совместное с г.Екатеринбургом:!}
on one side of the altar a man on the other a woman
Like all Inca temples of the sun (masculine) and the moon (feminine)
The most high point The city was called Intihuatana - "the place where the sun is tied." It contains a special polygonal ritual stone, here the priests kept track of time - they determined the time of day, calculated months and years. Without a doubt, here they determined and best time to start sowing or harvesting.
The stone altar carved into the rock was associated with the ceremony of symbolic binding of the sun, it was carried out so that the luminary would not leave Machu Picchu during the winter solstice. Various sacrifices were made during the ceremony, it is believed that these could be not only animals, but also children.
On excursions. The time spent at the main altar is limited. Tourists come and go down, down.
The maximum allowed number of people in a group is 20 people. There are 44 of us, we are moving in two groups of 22 people. we try to stick together. At 12.00 contact with the guys in Yekaterinburg, for a joint action. the guards rush. Volodya says: “Raul, save, you have to hold out for another 3 minutes before the connection! Is there any handout material? Raoul: Yes. Volodya: “Come on, speak, please, until 12.00”
Action at the agreed time. Here 12.00, and in Yekaterinburg 23.00.
Altar in the form of a muzzle of a panther Terraces and the Urubamba River
Our group near the altar photo from Mount Huayna Picchu, made by Vasily, the only one of us who was able to climb Huayna Picchu.
View of Machu Picchu and the ancient city from Wayna Picchu.
According to legend, all the walls of the buildings of this city were sheathed with sheets of gold, and when the colonialists invaded the country, the inhabitants of Machu Picchu collected gold and left. The fate of the inhabitants of the city and the countless treasures hidden from the greedy conquistadors is still unknown. During excavations in the burials, 173 human skeletons were found, of which 150 were female, and no gold jewelry.
This stone block (3*7 meters) is called La Roca Sagrada. It looks like a puma, installed on the ritual square and completely copies the surrounding landscape. Everyone who wanted to have an individual meditation here.
below Ancient masonry, and on top masonry of the Inca era. Ancient masonry, according to an unofficial version, some refer to the times of Hyperborea and Atlantis, and the Incas have already completed the old temple and adapted it to their rituals
Altar of one of the inner temple of the city
Working with the Thought Form. Stone bowls. Some researchers believe that the Incas observed stars at night in the reflection of water, others believe that they symbolize male and female energy and are associated with the mountains of Machu Picchu and Wauna Picchu.
Action at the male and female bowl Our men in action.
Peacekeepers
Scientists are still arguing about the appointment of a number of Machu Picchu temples. It is not known, for example, which deity was worshiped in the so-called Temple of the Three Windows, located in the eastern part of the city square. The temple has three windows, shaped like a trapezoid and facing east. However, on their sides there are also "blind windows" of the same size, which could serve as niches. According to the Incas, the windows of this temple led to infinity - this is the only thing that scientists managed to find out.
This Sanctuary is called the Temple of the Three Windows. Through these windows, the rays of the sun penetrated the Sacred Square, where the rituals took place. For the Incas, the number three was very symbolic, so according to legend, it was through three windows that the three founding rulers of the Inca civilization entered the earthly world.
Torren (Temple of the Sun) and the stone altar inside, this is the altar on which, as legend has it, the most beautiful girls were sacrificed to the gods. Such sacrifices were made rarely and only in honor of the Sun. The ritual took place at sunrise. The blood that irrigated the stones was supposed to help the birth of the luminary. The sacred power of the virgins went to heaven, and the lifeless bodies remained lying on the pedestal so that the Sun could take all their strength and energy to the drop.
Of the temples of Machu Picchu, the most significant and famous is the Temple of the Sun. Due to its semi-circular wall and location on the edge of a rocky ledge, it is sometimes compared to a condor's nest. Inside, behind the wall of the temple, there is a huge granite pedestal, covered with many potholes, most likely, it played the role of an altar and sacrifices were made on it. On the day of the summer solstice, when the sun rises, a streak of light always appears on the surface of this stone altar. Undoubtedly, the priests conducted astronomical observations from this temple, determined the exact position of the sun for their mystical rituals.
Connection with Huaynu Picchu.
Quite unusual is the Temple of the Condor. It got its name due to the stone that repeats the outlines of a bird's head and beak.
Wings of the Condor, in the Temple of the Condor Behind this stone rise two rocks, conditionally symbolizing the wings of a bird. According to scientists, this stone also served as an altar; on the “beak” there is a gutter, through which the blood of the victims probably flowed. It is known that the Incas had a cult of the condor, this bird personified freedom and air among the Indians. It is possible that this temple was associated with the cult of the condor. The connection with the feminine is obvious...
Magnetic stone, here the arrows of (ordinary magnetic) compasses behave unusually, the corner of the stone points directly to the top of Machu Picchu Job
Vasily descended from Huayna Picchu (young mountain), but the biggest, the only one who managed to get there from our group! The ascent was not easy, but worth it. And how wonderful it is to wash yourself with rainwater from the sacred well after meeting with friends!
Temple of Water, next to the Temple of the Sun The system of sacred wells and storm water, which is still operating properly.
Thus, a fashion show of designer alpaca products began on the train.
With Peruvian buffoon. Ethnic items made of cashmere and alpaca were offered for purchase along with a fun fashion show
so ended the day trip to machu picchu
Machu Picchu is a place that feels magical, amazing and stunning in beauty, sacred and powerful in terms of energy, where everyone could find and acquire a piece of themselves, and also give a piece to restore the Earth, for the common cause for which we aspired there... .

The Koricancha temple and the monastery of Santo Domingo have become a symbol of the collision of the ancient Andean culture with European civilization. Coricancha was the most important sanctuary of the sun god during the Inca Empire, on the walls of which the Spanish colonists built the monastery of Santo Domingo.

Myths and facts

Coricancha literally translates as "". Initially, it was called Inti kancha (Inti kancha) - "Temple of Inti" - the god of the Sun, the main deity of the Inca pantheon. Accounts of the Spanish conquistadors speak of an "incredibly fabulous" sparkling palace, all covered in gold leaf, with countless life-sized gold and silver statues of plants and animals in the courtyard. In addition to hundreds of golden panels and figures, an altar in the form of a huge golden disk was located in the center. During the summer solstice, the disk reflected sunlight, illuminating the niche of the temple where the leader of the Incas sat.

The luxurious palace was the most important temple of the Incas, built in 1438. About 4,000 priests once lived within its boundaries. Coricancha also served as the main astronomical observatory. There were others dedicated to the gods of nature: the moon, Venus, thunder, lightning and rainbows.

Most of the riches of the Coricancha had to be given to the Incas as a ransom for their captives during the Spanish conquest. But the sacred gold was paid in vain. After that, the Spaniards still plundered and tore off the remaining jewelry, and Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) was founded on the skillfully laid stone walls of the sanctuary. A strong earthquake in 1950 severely damaged the monastery and exposed some fragments of the Inca temple, built from huge, tightly fitted blocks of stone, which still stand intact due to the peculiarities of the complex masonry.

What to see

The baroque church of the monastery of Santo Domingo pales next to the fine workmanship of the Inca stonework, which is the main attraction of this complex. During the major reconstruction of both buildings after the earthquake, a significant part of the monastery was removed, opening the four original halls of the temple.

Earthquake-resistant masonry, trapezoidal doorways, curved retaining walls, and exquisite carvings are a clear example of Inca engineering and artistic skills. Stand on the small platform in the first room to see the exact symmetry of the stone slab holes that fit together perfectly.

Near Santo Domingo there is an underground archaeological museum, where the surviving mummies, textiles and statues of sacred idols found during excavations are kept.

The Qorikancha and Santo Domingo complex is open daily from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Cost: S/6 ($1.70) for adults and S/3 ($0.85) for students. Not included in the Boleto Turistico (complex ticket for visiting the sights of Cusco).

Built in the shadow of the Andes mountain range, Cusco's golden temple was the center of an empire that revolutionized urban planning in South America.

After the conquest of Cuzco, the Spaniards destroyed the Coricancha sun temple and erected a cathedral on this site, but its foundation consisted entirely of the stones of the former temple.

Rough air that makes it hard to breathe, the breaking boulders of the Peruvian Andes - such a place does not look too good for the capital of a rapidly expanding pre-Columbian empire. For any community to successfully exist in such conditions, great ambitions and a considerable amount of political decisions, as well as engineering ideas, would be needed.

Fortunately for the Incas, they had all this in abundance, which allowed them to create, using religious faith, political will and smart decisions, the largest empire in South America on land of little use for this. When Pachacutec took the throne of the Incas in 1438, he set about rebuilding Cusco according to a new street plan. This arrangement of streets has been preserved until today.

The outlines of the city were supposed to resemble a cougar, with which many legends were associated. It occupies a special place in the mythology of the Indians.

Original stonework in Coricancha.

According to legend, built around 1200, the temple was erected with a distinctive design and intricate masonry typical of the Inca architectural style. The Spanish historian Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa admires this style in his 1572 book History of the Incas: "Those of us who saw the temple were in awe of its perfection and beauty."

Coricancha occupied a very important place in the city. Located at the intersection of four main roads and connecting the four regions of the state, the temple symbolized the most important role of religion in uniting the various cultural traditions that existed in the vast territory controlled by the Incas.

Home to over 4,000 priests and lost in the Andean massifs, Coricancha functioned like a huge calendar. The shadows cast by the stones, which were on top of the structure and clearly visible from the temple, made it possible to keep a record of the solstices and equinoxes.

The religious complex inside the building consisted of four main ones, dedicated to different gods: the god of the moon, the star god, the god of thunder and the god of the rainbow. Coricancha was overflowing with gold. One of the rooms contained a giant golden disc in the form of a sun, reflecting the sun's rays and illuminating the rest of the temple. The disc was positioned so that during the summer solstice it illuminated the inviolable place where only the emperor was allowed to sit.

The era of the reign of Pachacutec was marked by numerous conquests. By the time his successor ascended the throne, the state stretched from the borders of modern Colombia to the Chilean Santiago. The effective organization of Cusco was the main key to success.

But the glory of the empire was short-lived. The struggle for power and the devastating smallpox epidemic brought by European discoverers in 1530 plunged the empire into. The Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro, who arrived, took advantage of the confusion and captured the emperor Atahualpa, despite the huge numerical superiority of the natives.

Having paid the ransom demanded by the Spaniards for the release of the emperor, the Indians lost the gold of Karikancha. Regardless of the treasures obtained, the Spaniards killed Atahualpa.

After the conquest of Cusco, the Spaniards destroyed the magnificent building. The golden plates were melted down and sent to Spain along with the sculptures of the temple. On the site of the temple, a Catholic cathedral was erected, the foundation of which was the stones of an Indian shrine. But he laughs best who laughs last. Centuries later, a strong earthquake completely destroyed the cathedral built by the Spaniards, leaving only the foundation of the Incas intact.

Today, Coricancha is receiving the recognition it has long deserved. Despite the fact that modern Cusco has grown and the original outlines of the city in the form of a puma can hardly be seen, the Temple of the Sun remains a wonderful place that attracts many tourists.

The Spanish cathedral was rebuilt on top of the Inca structure, and visitors are forbidden to climb up its walls. They are only allowed to roam the land that once stood the symbol of the vanished empire. Today, where the golden disk of the sun sparkled in the distant past, you can only see sunbathing tourists.