The Lost City of the Incas

location:

description:

Machu Picchu is a Quechua word that means “old mountain”. Worldwide known nowadays because of their astonishing archeological remains and its incomparable location at edge of a cliff in which base the large Urubamba River flows.

Machu Picchu is more than a citadel; it is a roofless archeological complex. This complex is called City due to the big number of houses located in the city, more than 200 can be counted, and during its peak could have existed more. Besides in its design you can see squares, temples, paths, stairs, terraces, aqueducts, etc.

One of the most important Incas archeological buildings, because it was built over very difficult geographical characteristics; but due to this hostile and inaccessible area is that it was not destroyed by the Spanish predation, that is why we can now enjoy this wonderful building that is in perfect harmony with nature

atractives:

Machu Picchu has well defined areas that historians classified in sectors because their possible uses given by the Incas.

Agriculture sector:

It covers all the southeastern area of the city. It is mainly compound of terraces however some random buildings can be seen, the most important buildings in this sector are:

The superior cemetery: Located to the south of the city's gate and in an upper level, it is a small almost rectangular area.

The checkpoint: Located to the northern end of the superior cemetery. It is a building without the west wall with windows on the eastern wall. It takes its name on its exceptional location.

The funerary rock: It is a huge carved on every angle rock with cabalistic moldings. It is located on the esplanade of the superior cemetery.
Terraces: They are diverse groups of terraces that are different from one another; they had an agricultural objective in this area.

Urban Area:

The superior group: It is a group of buildings located at the southern end of the citadel; it is a neighborhood with straight streets which are parallel from one another. This neighborhood must have been designated for buildings to live in since there is not uniformity from one another.

Sun Temple or Tower: It was located in the central part on the south of the urban area. The Sun Temple was in a semi conic shape; according to historians; this building didn't have military purposes, it was a temple for the sun.

The Royal Tomb: It is an irregular shaped room or a cave with exquisite finishes; the entrance is on the east. Semi circular enclosures were molded on top.

The Sacred Square: It is located in the center of the western area of the urban area which is upper than the major square, the square is surrounded by temples and that is why it is called like that; it is a small square area with sides of about 16m long.

The three window temple: It is located on the east of the Sacred Square. It only has three walls and a rectangular floor. It has three windows and two shelves that imitate windows on the eastern wall.

The Main Temple: It is located to the north of the Sacred Square. It has three walls and a rectangular floor. Each of the side walls has five equidistant trapezoidal niches, the bottom wall shows seven trapezoidal niches and as a altar table three trapezoidal blocks are located.

Intiwatana and Usno: An irregular pyramid stepped shaped and truncated construction is located on the western side of the urban sector; which was built taking advantage of the high elevation of the area. On the top there is a carved rock that was used as an astronomic observatory or "Intiwatana".

The Sacred Stone: It is a gigantic molded on every side stone. It is 7m long and 3 m high and almost 1m thick. It is located on a pedestal on the north end of the citadel.

Terraces: There might have been terraces designated for agriculture at Machu Picchu but there are other narrow terraces that were not to grow anything but to be used for pedestrian purposes, retaining walls and esthetic religious elements.

schedule:

The entering schedule for the citadel is from 6:00 to 16:00, the leaving time is at 17:00 with a capacity of 2500 visits per day.

The rate can be seen in the electronic ticket.

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