Ayacucho

Its Bell towers kiss the sky and its streets, climbing melancholically lead to beautiful colonial churches, lasting symbols of the unbreakable faith of the children of Ayacucho. It is a city of gossip and of nostalgia, which brings tears to the eyes in holy week or at the sound of the voices of its mythical singers, drunk on love and loneliness.

Surrounded by prickly pears and blessed with a temperate and healthy climate, the city of Ayacucho, capital of the state of the same name, is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Peuvian Andes because it combines the remains of primitive cultures with the majesty of its colonial buildings.

Known as the city of 37 churches, Ayacucho was founded on April 25, 1540 by the name of Huamanga but vestiges of human settlements more than 15,000 years old have been found in the cave of Pikimachay. Furthermore between the VI and XII centuries the first structured nation of the Andean world emerged in these lands, that of the Wari Culture.

And it was in the Pampa de la Quinua 32 kms. away from Ayacucho that Simon Bolivar's troops sealed the independence of a continent, by defeating the Spanish army in the glorious battle of Ayacucho which took place on December 9, 1824.

Ayacucho, at more than 2700 m.a.s.l., is one of the most attractive towns in the Peruvian Andes. It is a city full of tradition and history, famed for its 33 beautiful churches and bell towers, its Colonial buildings, its famous craftsmen and for having been the Capital of the Empire of the Wari Culture. The Cave of Pikimachay, where some of the first peoples of the continent settled, is near the City, and the picturesque Town of Quinua, where the Capitulation of Ayacucho, the document that sealed the Freedom of South American, was signed, is only 35km away. . Visiting Ayacucho will definitely provide pleasant, unforgettable memories for those who decide to come to this hidden corner of the Peruvian highlands.

Ayacucho, "The City of Churches", is one of Peru's most fascinating Andean towns, filled with gorgeous architecture, renowned artists and full of traditions and history. Peru's largest religious festival is held in Ayacucho during Easter Week, when celebrations last for a week full of processions, parades and parties famous for their unique blending of Christian faith and pagan traditions. Visiting Ayacucho, without doubt, will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your trip to Peru.