The Sacred Valley is a region in Peru's Andean highlands. Along with the nearby town of Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu, it formed the heart of the Inca Empire. Stretching roughly 60 kilometers, it’s an area of fertile farmland and Spanish colonial villages like Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Pisac is known for its Sunday handicraft market and hilltop Incan citadel. Ollantaytambo is an old Inca town preserved in its entirety.
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Cusco - the church de la compana de Jesus was built upon the palace of Huayna Cápac, the last Inca to rule an undivided, unconquered empire, the church was built by the Jesuits in 1571 and reconstructed after the 1650 earthquake.
Old Inca wall in Cusco with the famous 12 angled stone
Church de la compana de Jesus in Cusco's main square
The Cusco Cathedral was built 1560 on the lot of Kancha, the palace of Inca Wiracocha. The actual Cathedral was declared built in 1664, more than a century after.
The main square of Cusco
Koricancha, the Golden Temple of the Sun in Cusco. Koricancha’s construction is believed to have been initiated by the first Inca, Manco Capac circa 1200AD.
Koricancha, the Golden Temple of the Sun in Cusco. Koricancha is built with many construction mechanisms used by the Incas, such as the vertical inclination of walls, trapezoidal shape of the structures, irregular shapes and rounded edges. Increased breadth on the bottom coupled with 3 to 5 degree inclination gives the walls stability that has withstood many earthquakes, which are common to the area.
The 12 angled stone
Bull Frogs on offer at the Municipal Market in Cusco
Fried Guinea Pigs at the Cusco Market
Refreshing beverages at the Cusco market
Cusco
Temple of the Sun, Cusco
Inca fortress of Saksaywaman above Cusco
The monolithic walls of Saksaywaman
The Inca ruins of Pisac
Inca ruins of Pisac
Pisac
Pisac seen from the ruins
Old Inca town of Ollantaytambo
Ollaytaytambo
Ollaytaytambo
Ollaytaytambo
Ollaytaytambo
Ollaytaytambo
Streets of Cusco
Streets of Cusco
Siesta in the Cusco market
Tasty treats at the Cusco market
Ollaytaytambo
The town of Pisac with the Inca ruins in the hills above town
The Inca citadel of Ollantaytambo. The Ollantaytambo Fortress on the outskirts of the settlement in a section known as the Temple Hill. It was originally built for purposes of worship. The fortress served as the last Inca stronghold against the Spanish Conquistadors and it was the site of one of the only battles in which the Inca successfully repelled Spanish forces.
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
Ollaytaytambo
The Ollantaytambo Fortress. the Wall of the Six Monoliths, a towering section of wall.
Ollaytaytambo
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
The Ollantaytambo Fortress the Wall of the Six Monoliths.
The Ollantaytambo Fortress
The train to Machu Picchu
The top of Huayna Picchu
The view from the summit of Huayna Picchu
The spectacular surroundings of Machu Picchu
Intihuatana - the Hitching Post of the Sun - an Astronomical clock of the Inca or a sacrificial altar?
Hiking around Machu Picchu
The Temple of the Sun at Machu Picchu
The Sacred Puma Rock - a stone altar of unknown purpose
Fantastic views to the Urubamba Valley
The view from Huayna Picchu
The approach valley to the Painted Mountain alt 5000m
A small village near the trail to the Painted Mountain
The trail to Apu Winicunca - The Painted Mountain
Mt. Ausangate (Vicanota) 6,384m
Ausangate 6,384m
Painted Mountains and the Red Valley
The Painted Mountain
The Red Valley
Mario Testino's take on the Inca traditional wears
The magic of Mario Testino
Mario Testino museum