The Inca site of Pisac

Pisac Ruins

Pisac ruins is one of the highlights of the Sacred Valley. The Inca site of Pisac is well-known for agricultural terracing, which sweeps around the south and east flanks of the mountain in vast, graceful curves, almost unbroken by steps.

A fortress city

The Pisac ruins, the largest fortress city of the Incas and one of the largest of ancient America, sit high above the modern day village of the same name. They constitute a stupendous ruin complex of the finest Inca stonework, with many attendant buildings, baths and storehouses, exceptional flights of terracing, and quantities of tombs, all well defended by walls, gates and towers. The complex seems to feature some example of almost everything the Incas did in terms of architecture; with religious, administrative and residential constructions.

Visiting Pisac

A tour of Pisac can combine both the archaelogical site and the market at its foot. The incan ruins are in the Sacred Valley and can be visited en route to or from Cusco, or in combination with more of the top incan sites of the Sacred Valley such as Ollantaytambo or Chinchero in a full day tour.

Monuments of the Incas

Guests on our Trip of the Century visited the beautiful site with the expert guidance of historian John Hemming. Dr. Hemming’s expertise on the subject is exemplified in his book Monuments of the Incas, which is a thorough investigation and interpretation of the architecture of several Inca sites.

 

 

Related Post
Aracari’s Weekly Insight #14: Inca Royal Weddings The Question: Did Inca royalty really marry their sisters? The Answer: The short answer is, yes, it is true that in late times of the Inca Em...
Color and Costumes at Oruro Carnival Bolivia One week ago the Oruro Carnival Bolivia, came to an end. The carnival, a UNESCO-listed Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, is...
The Real Sacred Valley: Cultural Peru Hike During a trip to the Sacred Valley of Peru, I had the chance to participate in an unforgettable day hiking through remote mountains, visiting little-k...
La Paz Walking Tour La Paz is a metropolis of many nooks and crannies. I had visited La Paz once before in 2011 when I was living in Sucre, but when I was passing through...
Corpus Christi Peru Festival Corpus Christi Peru Festival in Cusco The Corpus Christi Peru Festival is the most important religious festival celebrated in Cusco, and features an ...
Dakar in Peru: World-renowned race starts in Lima this weekend It’s that time of year again, and the Dakar rally is returning to Peru for the second time! Last year the race finished in Lima, with the final stages...