São Paulo – Cuzco, in Peru, is recognised as the capital of the Inca empire. The city is the base for thousands of tourists from all over the world to visit the dozens of ruins left behind by the civilisation that extended its domain for over 4,000 kilometres in South America, from Ecuador to the north of Argentina, up to the start of the confrontation with the Spanish Conquistadors, in 1532.
However, apart from the great assets left behind by the Inca civilisation, among them the archaeological sites of Machu Picchu, Cuzco also has a little Arab heritage, seen in some architectural characteristics, but, mainly, in a work donated to the city by the Palestinian colony: the White Christ.
The work was an initiative of the Palestinian Manuel Jasaui Facuse and his brother, Federico Jasaui Facuse, and received the support of other members of the Arab colony. The brothers were silk traders and had much success in their business. To thank the city of Cuzco for their success, before leaving it, they decided to build the statue, a copy of the Christ Redeemer.
Made by Ernesto Olazo Allende, it was erected in 1945, and is eight meters tall. Built in granite and covered in gypsum and marble, it is in the region of Sacsayhuaman, surrounded by ruins. Between 1973 and 1974, a journalist called Paliza Bazán asked for nets to be placed around the statue, for protection and, thus, it is conserved to date.
After visiting the Christ, it is worth paying attention to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman. In fact, all archaeological sites in the region of Cuzco, like the so-called Chinchero, Pisac, Moray and Tambomachay, among others, show a little of the Inca history, its ways of living and its knowledge.
The construction of temples to the gods, for example, used stones fit into each other, like a Lego game. In the houses of the population alone, and in sites of lower importance, clay was used to join the stones.
Incas also dominated agronomy. In Moray, for example, the landscape hosts earth and stone circles, on different levels. Each one of these levels, as they present distinct microclimates one from the other, were used for the cultivation of different crops, like varieties of potato and maize.
Machu Picchu, the main attraction of the region, was not the centre of the empire, but was the most conserved city among those Inca constructions that remained. To get there it is necessary to leave Cuzco, called the "navel of the world”, as it was the true capital of the Inca domain, and head to Águas Calientes. From there, dozens of tourist buses head to the ruins.
The sanctuary covers over 32,000 hectares and houses what used to be the main Inca temple, the Temple of the Sun. The sun was the main god for the Incas, who were polytheistic. The name "Inca", in fact, referred only to the kings of the empire, which rose in early 1,200. There were 14 sovereigns. The general public were the "quéchua", which is part of the Peruvian population to date.
For those interested in seeing the sanctuary from atop a mountain, every day, climbs are promoted to the top of Huaynapicchu, at an altitude of 2,720 metres. If the weather is good, it is possible to take beautiful pictures of Machu Picchu from above. However, the climb is only recommended for those with an adventure spirit. The steps up the mountain are narrow and, with the rain, they become slippery. There are no guides to take you up, and only 400 visitors are allowed each day.
Service:
Hotels in Cuzco:
Luxury Home San Jeronimo Cuzco
Avenida Manco Capac, 95, San Jeronimo (+51 17)920889
Novotel Cusco
Rua San Augustin, 239 (+51 84)581030
Monasterio Cusco
Rua Palacio, 136 (+51 84) 60 4000
Travel operator in Cuzco:
Inka World Peru
Av. Garcilaso 208 – 2do Piso (+51 84) 235746
*Translated by Mark Ament