Ollantaytambo is an Incan city that sits along the Patakancha River. It often serves as the starting point for visitors traveling the Inca Trail, but it is a fascinating site on its own as well. Ollantaytambo was once the Emperor Pachacuti’s royal estate, after he conquered the area. Under his direction, the town was rebuilt to include many new buildings, including a ceremonial center. After he died, the estate was passed on to his family members. It was an Incan stronghold during the conquistadors’ conquest, until it fell under control of Hernando Pizarro in 1540. Visiting this site will give you a sense of Pre-Columbian history in Peru.
From the monthly archives:
March 2010
The Paracas District in the Ica Province is named for an ancient civilization that once lived there. Although several ancient societies developed throughout Peru many centuries ago, the Paracas culture stands out for their extremely intricate textiles. These delicate woven textiles were used to wrap mummies, so many were preserved in tombs that were first investigated in the 1920s. Museums around the world display these amazing works of art today.
Although most people have heard of Machu Picchu, many do not know about Choqequirao, which is often referred to as Machu Picchu’s sister. Just like Machu Picchu, it was a city of the Incas. Located in Southern Peru, it is also accessed through the Cusco region. However, it cannot be reached by bus or train the way Machu Picchu can. In fact, the only way to visit it is to take a two day hike. Therefore, it has remained a less popular tourist site. Researchers believe Choquequirao was used as a refuge for the last Incas who tried to resist the conquistadors. The ruins are being restored, and there is talk of one day running a cable car or train into the area so more visitors can experience this city.
I love finding new artisans in Peru, and seeing where their specialties lie. Some artisans are experts at carving gourd by hand to create mate (ma-tay) handcrafted bracelets and necklaces, others know how to delicately place real butterfly wings in perfect silver settings. On my recent trip, I found a very talented artisan who specializes in handcrafted jewelry with inlaid stones and shells. We’ll be adding several new inlaid designs to Tikanchay’s site in the next week, and many of the new designs from this recent trip are already featured there. This Inlaid Stone and Shell Bracelet shows off several Peruvian stones, and Spondylus shell. The royal blue stone is Sodalite, and the cream colored stone is Mother of Pearl. The vibrant orange and purple hues come from the Spondylus shell. This bracelet shows the beauty of the colorful landscape in Peru.
