TOURIST INFORMATION
AYACUCHO |
| GENERAL DATA |
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Location:
The department of Ayacucho is located in the southern
Peruvian Andes.
Peru
Area: 43 814 km2
Capital:
Ayacucho
Altitude:
2 761 m.a.s.l.
Average annual temperature: 17,5º
C (maximum 24º C and minimum 11º C). The rainy
season runs from November through March.
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| ACCESS ROUTES |
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By land:
The most recommended route is Lima-Ayacucho (500 km),
via Los Libertadores, with a duration of about 9 h.
Other routes include:
Cusco-Ayacucho (597 km) with a duration of about 12 h.
Huancayo-Ayacucho (316 km) with a duration of about 9
h.
By air:
There are flights from the city of Lima (about 45 minutes) |
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| HISTORICAL OVERLOOK |
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The first vestiges of human presence in
Ayacucho are found in the Pikimachay cave and date from
20 000 BC. Later on, during the formative period (between
2 000 BC and the first years of our era), other settlements
appeared in Rancha, Chupas and Wichqana. The Wari empire
flourished between the sixth and seventh centuries with
its capital city in the Ayacucho region. After its declining
came the Chanca Regional State, and finally, the region
was conquered by the Incas, who founded an administrative
provincial center of great importance in the area of Vilcashuamán.
In 1 539 Francisco Pizarro founded the city of Ayacucho
and gave it the name of San Juan de la Frontera de Huamanga.
This city was created with strategic purposes because
it share borders with the territories dominated by the
Vilcabamba rebel indians. Once the rebel redoubt of Vilcabamba
was defeated, Ayacucho gained economic and cultural importance.
Already in the seventeenth century, Ayacucho had an important
textile industry, it was the seat of the Archbishopric
and home to a university, which made it one of the most
important cities in the Viceroyship
Today Ayacucho, land of peace and hope, still surprises
visitors for its colonial flavor. Ayacucho is called the
Peruvian Capital of Handicrafts and has spread its art
all over the world. |
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| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF AYACUCHO |
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The Cathedral
Huamanga Main Square.
Visits: Monday to Sunday 17:00-19:00.
Its construction began in 1 632 and was completed in
1 672. It has three naves containing the most important
altars, which remain as evidence of the richness of
past times.
San Cristóbal Temple
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 7 s/n.
Visits: only on the day of its anniversary.
It was the first temple built in the city in 1 540.
Santo Domingo Temple
Jr. 9 de Diciembre cdra. 2 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
Founded in 1 548, it features an altar with Baroque
Solomonic columns. A brick belfry with arches crossed
by huge wooden beams stands beside the temple.
San Francisco de Asís
Temple and Convent
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 2 s/n.
Phone: (064) 81-2099.
Visits: during mass hours
Founded in 1 552, it has oil paintings and altarpieces
of great quality.
Santa Clara Temple and
Monastery
Jr. Grau cdra. 3 s/n.
Open during mass hours.
Founded in 1 568, one of its most noted elements is
the coffered ceiling over the presbytery. Jesus of Nazareth,
the Patron of Huamanga is venerated in this temple.
La Compañía
de Jesús Temple
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 1 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
Founded in 1 605. Its façade displays a rose
colored stone frieze featuring carved flowers.
Santa Teresa Temple and Monastery
Jr. 28 de Julio cdra. 6 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
Founded in 1 603, its main altar is a sample of the
Churrigueresque style. The Morisco style grid of its
high choir is a beautiful piece of wood carving with
inlaid pearl and nacre.
La Merced Temple
Jr. 2 de Mayo cdra 2 s/n.
Visits: during mass hours.
The second oldest church in the city (1 541). Its side
frontispiece has sculptures on gray stone with high
relief images and columns in a compound style.
The Town Hall
Portal Municipal 48.
Founded in 1 540. Its side door features a stone frontispiece
that used to decorate the Quinta La Glorieta del Marqués
de Feria.
Boza y Solís Mansion
Portal Constitución 15 at Main Square.
Phone: (064) 81-2229.
Visits: Monday to Friday: 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00.
One of the most important examples of old Huamanga mansions.
It dates from 1 740.
Chacón Mansion
Portal Unión 28.
Phone: (064) 81-4102.
Visits: Monday to Friday 9:30-13:00 and 16:00-18:30.
This seventeenth century mansion currently houses the
Joaquín López Antay Popular Regional Arts
Museum. Its two ample patios are surrounded by sturdy,
sumptuous stone arches.
Castilla y Zamora Mansion
Portal Municipal 50, Plaza de Armas.
Phone: (064) 81-2230.
Visits: Monday to Friday 8:15-15:45.
This mansion belonged to Don Cristóbal Castilla
y Zamora, the founder of the Cathedral and the University
of Huamanga.
Vivanco Mansion
Jr. 28 de Julio 508.
Visits: Monday to Friday 8:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00.
This mansion dates from the sixteenth century. This
is the seat of Cáceres Museum.
Ruiz de Ochoa Mansion
Jr. Dos de Mayo 210.
Phone: (064) 81-8020.
Seat of Banco Wiese, it features art, culture and history
exhibition galleries. |
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| OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY |
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Wari
Pre-Inca citadel, located 22 km northeast of the city
of Ayacucho and about 45 minutes drive. It was the capital
of the Wari empire that flourished between the 6th and
12th century. It was an urban center with a population
of about 50 000 inhabitants. Today, visitors can admire
its walls, tombs, channels, etc.
Town
of Quinua and Pampa de Ayacucho
Town of potters, located 37 km from Ayacucho and about
50 minutes drive. Distant 1 km from the town is the Pampa
de Ayacucho, a historical location where the Battle of
Ayacucho that sealed the Independence of South America
was held on December 9th, 1 824.
Pikimachay
Located 24 km from the city of Ayacucho and approximately
30 minutes drive. Bone and lithic remains thought to be
the oldest in South America and dating back some 20 000
years were found in this location.
Vilcashuamán
Located 120 km south of Ayacucho and about 4 h drive.
It was an Inca administrative center. Its main buildings
include the Temple of the Sun and the Moon and the Ushno
or ceremonial pyramid.
Intiwatana
Located 102 km from Ayacucho and about 3 h drive, it is
an archaeological complex featuring a palace, a tower,
the Inca bath (with a 13-corner stone) and a lagoon in
the middle of the archaeological complex at 2 300 m.a.s.l.
Titancayoc
Located 109 km southeast of Ayacucho, about 3 h drive,
followed by 2 h walk. Natural forest that shelters the
region’s largest number of specimens of Titanca
or Puya Raimondi.
Huanta
Valley
Located 51 km from Ayacucho and about 50 minutes drive,
this is a privileged valley because of its location and
its rich flora and fauna.
Pampas
Galeras
Located in the province of Lucanas, 615 km from Ayacucho
taking the Ayacucho-San Clemente-Pisco-Nasca-Pampas Galeras
route, and about 11 h drive. It is the national reserve
where the vicuñas are reared in their natural habitat.
Parinacochas Lagoon
Located in the province of Parinacochas, 717 km from Ayacucho
and about 18 h drive. Beautiful lagoon that houses many
birds, notably the flamingos or parihuanas, on its banks.
The Sara Sara and the Achatayhua volcanoes are close to
the lagoon. |
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| HANDICRAFTS |
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Ayacucho’s handicrafts are particularly
rich due to the presence of several cultures, notably
the Spanish and Indian, which mingled several expressions,
including:
The Retablos
Miniature altar boxes which, with the passing of time,
have incorporated Andean folk scenes.
The
Huamanga Stone
Stone carved figurines are the most representative symbols
of Ayacucho handicrafts. These figurines depict traditional
scenes from daily life.
Silver
and filigree work
The quality of silver work preserves the standard achieved
since Colonial times. |
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| GASTRONOMY |
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typical dishes:
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Qapchi or Hapchi (salad based on fresh
potato with Cachipa or soft unripened cheese, hot
chili, oil and chopped onions). |
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Caldo de mondongo (soup prepared with tripe, maize,
mint and giblets). |
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Patachi (soup based on wheat, beans, bacon and
meat). |
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Puca picante (pork cracklings in peanut sauce). |
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Uman caldo or caldo de cabeza (Broth prepared
with lamb head, mint and chili). |
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Cuy chaktado (guinea pig fried on a frying pan
under a flat, heavy stone). |
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Pachamanca (assorted meats, potatoes and tender
corn or maize cooked underground amid hot stones
and aromatic herbs, pre-Hispanic style). |
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Tecte (casserole based on lima beans, algae, peas,
chili, garlic, soft unripened cheese, milk and eggs). |
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Pushla (soup prepared with ground barley, herbs,
eggs and species). |
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Adobo ayacuchano (meat marinated casserole with
chili and species.) |
Its traditional drinks include: chicha de jora, chicha
de molle, and chicha de siete semillas |
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| FESTIVITIES |
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Holy Week in
Ayacucho (March / April)
The Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday, with Jesus entering
the city riding on a white donkey. Other processions take
place during the week: on Monday, the Garden Prayer, on
Tuesday, the Lord of the Sentence and, on Wednesday, a
representation of Jesus taking the Cross to the Calvary.
This dramatic scene that depicts the encounter of the
Mother and her Son (Mary and Jesus), moves all participants
deeply. On Holy Thursday, the people visit the temples
to gain indulgences. In the evening of Good Friday, the
lights of the city are turned off to leave the way clear
to the Lord of the Holy Sepulcher. The magnificence of
the portable platform full with white candles moves the
faithful deeply. Later comes a vigil with chants and prayers
that lasts until the three-hour Sermon that is delivered
on Saturday. Joy returns after these days of grief, on
Easter Sunday, when the image of Jesus raised from the
dead is taken out in procession throughout the streets. |
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| SERVICES |
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Airport
Coronel FAP Alfredo Mendivil Duarte.
Av. del Ejercito 950.
Phone: (064) 81-2088.
Open: Monday to Sunday 6:00-10:00
Land Transport
There are no land terminals, however, transportation
companies may be found at:
Av. Mariscal Cáceres blocks 7-12.
Av. Manco Capac blocks 2-4.
Health Centers
Sub Región de Salud de Ayacucho.
Av. Independencia 355.
Phone: (064) 81-2180.
24 hour service.
Police Stations
Sede Central Policía Nacional del Perú.
Jr. 28 de Julio 325.
Phone: (064) 81-2332.
24 hour service.
Policía Nacional de Turismo
Jr. Dos de Mayo 100.
Open: Monday to Sunday 7:30-20:00
Handicrafts Markets
There are no handicrafts markets, however most of the
shops are located at:
Plazoleta Santa Ana.
Jr. Libertad blocks 7-9.
Jr. París block 1.
Pasaje Bolognesi block 2.
Jr. Asamblea blocks 1 and 2.
Post Office
Jr. Asamblea 295, Ayacucho.
Phone: (064) 81-2224.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00. |
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