The Ruins of Chinchero
Our first outing from Ollantaytambo took us to the town of Chinchero, about an hour away by bus. Chinchero is known among the tourists for its market and as one of the most accessible places to see people in traditional garb, but trinkets don't interest us and our way of traveling brings us into plenty of contact with locals. No, we were there for another reason entirely: an Old Pile of Stone!
Chinchero was a town of some importance in Inca times. A couple of the chroniclers report that it was founded by Inca Tupac Yupanqui, and there are a few reports that dissidents from within the nobility would be sent here in exile when they escaped execution in Cusco.
Today, all that is left of this past glory are some ruined walls, exquisite terracing, and, most impressively, a carved stone that once served as a fountain. A church now stands on the old city's largest palace, and the outer walls of several temples still stand near the plaza.
We took some nice pictures of the place, we hope you enjoy!
August 31st, 2010 - 08:29
Did you retrieve whatever you dropped, Matt? By the way, you’re both looking JUST TOO GOOD! Like life was easy and sunny and healthy or something?