Dominating the city of Cuzco, this statue of Christ the Redeemer is on the hill of Pukamoko. It is a copy of that of Rio de Janeiro.
CUZCO located at 3400 meters above sea level, was the capital of the Incas. Its name comes from Quechua "Qusqu" which meant "navel". It was for them the center of the world. It was founded by Manco Capac.
In the center of the city, the cathedral. Located on the Place d'Armes, this building is gigantic: 85 meters by 45 meters, and bell towers 33 meters high. The one on the left contains the biggest bell on the continent (6 tons)
The cloisters, whatever they may be, incite silence and calm.
The convent of St. Dominic was built on the foundations of the Inca temple of Qorikancha. The walls of the old building are still present.
Qorikancha means "Golden Court" Gold plaques similar to this one covered the walls. The symbols of the earth, the sun, the moon, the thunder, indicate that the Incas supported their beliefs about the observation of stars and stars but also of nature.
These walls, some 6 meters high, have always resisted earthquakes.
This stone a bit pink on the blue sky .........
Very elaborate shape for the openings allowing a beautiful perspective.
Everything was studied to fit perfectly and this stone is the proof of the genius of the Inca builders.
Sacsayhuaman: a site erected by Inca Pachacutec and its architect Huallpa Rimachi. It is estimated that more than 50,000 men have worked on this site for about 50 years.
There are 3 parallel ramparts of 600 meters long
They are said to be Cyclopean walls! The largest block of 9 meters high, 5 meters wide and 4 meters thick weighs 350 tons!
As before the pyramids, one thinks: but how did they do it?
The stones are perfectly cut to fit together!
Stairs connect the different enclosures and the trapezoidal doors give an extraordinary perspective.
Today, only a quarter of the site remains, because over the centuries the inhabitants of Cuzco used to make use of cut stones to build their houses.
Perhaps to replace the legos that did not exist yet ... And filling of the refinement: the corners are rounded!
Beautiful perspective on the Peruvian sky: the same as the Incas watched.
Heart of all the cities conquered by the Spaniards: the Plaza de Armas. Before the conquest this place of the time of the Incas was called Huacaypata (place of the warriors)
The cathedral, a mixture of Spanish Renaissance and Inca sculptures
The arcades surround a large part of the square.
Place of life and meetings.
Cristina waits for her mom to finish selling her lottery tickets!
Lanes very popular with tourists in view of the billboards and what they offer!
The Church of the Society of Jesus. This is the church of the Jesuits. Built in 1571, destroyed by an earthquake in 1650 the Jesuits decided to make it the most resplendent monument of the city. It was consecrated in 1668.
