The Bite Magazine - Spring 2019 - Issue 24

bite travel The main collection of the Museo Larco Ancient Peruvian Pitchers Ancient Inca terraces at Moray Machu Picchu ceramic designs on trek Cliffs and beach at Miraflores er Valley and the majestic El Misti. Within the city of Arequipa, the upscale neighbourhood of Yanahuara has wide cobblestone avenues that you can walk along and old ashlar (finely dressed) stone mansions which have retained their traditional gardens. There is also a beau- tiful church constructed in 1750 and a quaint plaza with a gorgeous ashlar stone lookout balcony. Famed as the world’s second deepest river canyon, after Cotahuasi also in Peru, Colca Canyon features thermal pools, the smouldering volcano of Sabancaya and time- less adobe villages dotted along the canyon rim. It can be explored by mountain bike, horseback, by an organ- ised trek or navigated by raft along the rapids of Rio Colca, providing a thrilling adventure not to be missed. This is a place replete with history, culture, ruins, tradi- tion and that intangible Peruvian magic. Seeing the indigenous people of Peru reminds you that a simple life can still be maintained. The Uros Indians hunt, fish and live off the lake on floating islands, made from the reeds found in Lake Titicaca. Taquile Island, on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca has a number of Inca ruins and terracing that you can admire. It is an in- teresting island to wander around and see the locals in their traditional clothing as well as watch their weaving techniques. You’ll see many of them wearing the iconic chuyo hats that are handmade by them. Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca Empire and one of the cultural centres of Peru has endless colonial sights to see including churches, monasteries and convents interspersed with Inca foundations, walls, doorways and arches. One of the main attractions is the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin built in 1560 with a rectangular floor design and three large wooden doors on its façade. The structure is made of 14 cruci- form pillars carved fromAndesite stone which supports 24 ribbed arched or star shaped ceilings. Iglesia de la Compañía (Church of the Society of Jesus) was built by the Jesuits in 1571 and reconstructed after the 1650 earthquake. Interestedly, they wanted to make