Dmc puno

PUNO THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

Province of Puno

Cathedral of the City of PunoThe cathedral was built in the seventeenth centuryand the Peruvian Architect Simon de Asto its façade.This Spanish Baroque church includes Andeanelements that give the monument its mixedcharacter.

Huajsapata HillHujsapata means “witness of my love”. It is a naturallookout dominating the city and Lake Titicaca. At thetop, there is a monument to Manco Capac, founderof the Inca Empire. They say that there are cavernsand subterranean pathways in the hill that connectPuno to the Koricancha Temple in the city of Cusco.

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

Lake TiticacaPeru and Bolivia share sovereignty over thisnavigable lake, the highest in the world (3810 masl /12.497 fasl). It covers an area of 8559km2 (3305miles2) a maximum depth of 283 meters (928 feet).Moreover, the lake tempers the area since withoutits presence; there would not be life at that altitude.On the Peruvian side of the Lake Titicaca, there areseveral islands: the natural islands include Amantani,Taquile, Soto, and Anapia, and the artificial islandsare the ones that the Uros people have built, eachone offering different attractions. Along the shores ofthe lake, totora reeds grow where different birds andfish like the carachis, ispis, bogas, umantos, suches(an endanger specie), silverfish, and trout call home.All these species are native of the area and are prizedfor their high nutritional value.

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

Floating islands of the UrosThe Uros Islands number around 20 and are locatedin the Bay of Puno. Three to ten Uro-Aymarasfamilies live on each one. They roof their houses withtotora reed carpets, although some families havereplaced their traditional roofs by metal ones. Thelargest Island are Tupiri, Santa Maria, Tribuna,Toranipata, chumi, Paraiso, Kapi, Titino, Tinajero, andNegrone.Uros call themselces Kotsuña, “the lake people”, andtheir origins go back to eras before the Incas. Theyhunt wild birds and maintain traditional fishingmethods, especially those used for the carachi andthe silverfish. The men are skillful handlers of thetotora reed boats, and the women are expertknitters. The characteristics cold and dry weather ofthe region is tempered in this area thanks to theconstantly evaporating water of the large lake.

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

Taquile IslandPre-Inca vestiges are found in the highest part of the island.During the Colonial period and up to the first years of thefirst years of the twentieth century, it was used as a politicalprison, until the island became property of the Taquilepeople in 1970. The town of the same name, Taquile, ischaracterized by its friendly inhabitants, who maintain theircustoms and traditional clothing. They distinguishthemselves by their detailed, fine, and colorful textiles withsymmetrical decorations and symbols that reflect their wayof life, customs, and Andean beliefs.

Chucuito DistrictIt is also known as the Royal Treasure City because it usedto be the tax collection center during the Colonial era. Itfeatures a main square and the Renaissance churches ofSanto Domingo (sixteenth century) and La Asuncion(seventeenth century). Also you can find the Inca UyoArcheological site, which name means “house of the Inca”in aymara language.

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

Amantani IslandAmantani covers some 9km2 (3.5 miles2). The flora ischaracterized by the presence of bushes like the muña, thekantuta, the sage, the tola and the patamuña. Eightcommunities live on the island and make their living fromgrowing potatoes, corn, oca, quinoa, limabeans, and greenpeas, and their most representative handcrafts are textilesand stone carvings. Among its natural attractions, there aretwo lookouts on the highest part offering a view of theentire lake, some pre-Hispanic remains, ceremonial centersand mummy cementery.

Sillustani Archeological complexThis complex stands on the shore of Lake Umayo. It isfamous for its Chullpas, large circular fortified burial towersfor the main leaders of the early villages of the Collaoplateau. Some are 12 meters high (39 feet), and remarkablefor their shape, thinner at the base and wider at the top.Close to the archeological complex is the site museumwhere different pieces from the Colla, Tiahuanaco, and Incacultures are preserved.

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

Province of Lampa

LampaLampa is the capital of the province, and it is knownas the “Pink City” for the color of its walls. One of thehighlights is the Church of James the Apostole, alsoknown as the Sistine Chapel because it houses areplica of the Pieta by Michelangelo. There, you findvast forests of queñua trees, Puya Raimondis andchinchilla breeding grounds among other attractions.

PucaraPucara is famous for its pottery, especially the well-known “Toritos de Pucara” (Little Bulls of Pucara).The ucara stone Museum, displaying a group ofstones monolith-like sculptures, steel, zoomorphicsculptures, ceramics, and other objects. Is also wortha visit.

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

Province of MohoConsidered the “Garden of the Altiplano” because ofits warm microclimate and variety of roses, Mohohas diverse archeological sites and natural andcultural attractions. In the surrounding areas, youfind the town of Conima, the Church os San MiguelArcangel, built in 1825 with an interior image of thearchangel, patron saint of the town of Conima andthe monolith of Huata, 5km away.

Province of San Antonio de PutinaThe waters have an average temperature of 39C(102F) and a high percentange of sodium chloride,magnesium and zinc. Its inhabitants believe they aregood for rheumatic and skin diseases. In Cala andPicotani, other surrounding villages, you can seeSouth American camelids like vicuñas or alpacas. Inthe area of Bellavista, there are also forests of PuyaRaimondi.

PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU

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