City tour Cusco
(full day)

Descrition

Activities	City tour
Duration	Hard day
Departure	Every days
Minimum number of poeple	1
Operation	All year round
Places to Visit	Cusco
Tour Type	Cultural
Type of service	Shared - Private

Itinerary

Day 1:

The visit begins with the impressive Cathedral of Cusco overlooking the Plaza De Armas. The gothic-renaissance style of architecture employed in the design of the cathedral reflects that of Spain during the period of the Spanish conquest of South America and also Cusco. There is also evidence of a baroque influence in the magnificent facade facing onto the Plaza de Armas.
Due to the resentful feelings felt by the conquered Incas towards the Spaniards, the Inca workforce incorporated much of their religious symbolism into the construction of the cathedral, for example, the carved head of a puma (an important god or religious motif found widely through much of ancient Peru) on the cathedral doors
There are also more than 400 paintings from the famous EscuelaCuzqueña (Cusco School of Painting), on display throughout the Cathedral and are a wonderful sight in themselves. The Cusco School is considered the first artistic center to teach European techniques in the Americas. The Cusqueña paintings are a form of religious art whose main purpose was didactic. The Spanish, who aimed to convert the Incans to Catholicism, sent a group of religious artists to Cusco. These artists formed a school for Amerindians and mestizos, teaching them drawing and oil painting.
After we visit the Temple of the Sun, Coricancha (from the Quechua words Quri Kancha meaning 'Golden Courtyard'), originally named Inti Kancha (' Temple of the Sun') was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, dedicated primarily to Inti, the Sun God.
It was one of the most revered and respected temples of the city of Cusco. The walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid gold, and the courtyard was filled with golden statues. Spanish reports tell of its opulence that was 'fabulous beyond belief'. The majority of the gold collected to fill the ‘ransom room’ for the Inca Atahualpa was collected from Coricancha.
The Church of Santo Domingo was built on the site, using the ruined foundations of the temple that was flattened by the Spanish in the 17th century, and is a fine example of where Inca stonework has been incorporated into the structure of a colonial building.
From here we go by bus to visit the four ruins that lie on the fringe of Cusco. Sacsayhuaman – thought to be of great religious significance during the time of the Incas. Q’enko – with its wonderful amphitheater and maze that leads to some underground galleries. Pucapucara – which means ‘Red Fortress’ and derives its name due to its semi-circular construction and the color of the land. Tambomachay - where two aqueducts, still functioning today, have clean water flowing all year round.