Attractions in Ayacucho

When you visit Ayacucho you go through narrow streets, passing by old and beautiful colonial houses, churches and convents with wonderful art treasures. You pass by very poor people dressed in their colorful ancestral clothes, like if you were visiting a colonial museum. You feel marveled with the nice handcraft found there.

We recommend doing a city tour of Ayacucho, specially the following places:

Plaza de Armas also called Parque Sucre

Main Square of the city. There is a big statue of the Marshal Antonio José de Sucre, who leaded the Liberator Army that gave the freedom to our country.

There are pretty arches surrounding the square. Behind them some important colonial buildings, outstanding the Cathedral. Also important:

Casona del Obispo Cristóbal de Castilla y Zamora (Colonial Large House - XVII century). Located to the right side of the Cathedral. It was the mansion of Cristóbal de Castilla y Zamora bishop of Huamanga (1669 - 1679) and founder of the University San Cristóbal de Huamanga.. Large house of sober and elegant construction, possesses an external gallery of four arches, wooden balustrades and roof of tiles. In their interior a small patio paved with four arches. Actually headquarters of the Universidad Nacional San Cristóbal de Huamanga.

Casona Boza y Solís (Colonial Large House - XVI century). Located in the Portal de la Constitución Nº 15. One of the oldest residences in America , sent to build for the Corregidor Nicolás de Boza y Solís. In their stone portal with vain of arch of half point, it exhibits a beautiful hall door of double leaf with brass nails. In their interior a great patio with small gardens and small font to the center, surrounded of stone arcades. During the war of the Independence , in one of their rooms it was prisoner the heroine María of Bellido. Actually headquarters of the city governor offices, the Prefecture.

Casona Chacón (Colonial Large House - XVII century). Located in Portal de la Unión Nº 28. The facade is formed by a beautiful arcade that forms roomy galleries. The main portal is of more height and has a hall door of two wooden leaves. The interior patio possesses an attractive one paved of figures in rhombus form in black and red color, the patio is skirted of beautiful arcades.. Headquarters of Banco de Crédito. Also located in its interior Museo de Arte Popular ( Popular Arts Museum ).

Casona Velarde Alvarez (Colonial Large House - XVI century), of Mestizo architecture, nowadays headquarters of the Escuela Regional de Bellas Artes "Felipe Huaman Poma de Ayala"

Casona Ruiz de Ochoa, located in Jirón Dos de Mayo, block 2, in front of the square and church La Merced. It is one of the most typical colonial large houses in Ayacucho. Its highlights very well in their facade conserved stone cover that shows two felines and a bicephalous eagle, to both sides smaller four portal they exist. Into their interior a surrounded paved patio of a gallery with arcade and stone columns; nowadays it is the headquarters of the Bank Wiese Sudameris.

Museo Histórico Regional (Historical Regional Museum )

Location: Av. Independencia (with no number). Cultural Center Simón Bolívar

Open Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 .

It is a small museum, has an exhibition of archaeological remains, statues, from different cultures such as Warpa, Huari, Chanca, Chavín, and Nazca. Also popular arts from the colony. Republican times room and a library.

Museo de Arte Popular ( Popular Art Museum )

Location: Portal Unión Nº 28, Plaza de Armas, Banco de Crédito Offices.

Open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 18:30

Small museum that exhibits fine popular artisan pieces, all from the region.

Museo Andrés A. Cáceres (Museum)

Location: Jr. 28 de Julio Nº 512. Colonial House de Vivanco

Small museum exhibits colonial paintings and personal objects from Marshal Andrés A. Cáceres, Peruvian hero from the war against Chile (1880).

Barrio de Santa Ana ( Santa Ana 's Neighborhood)

Neighborhood inhabited by artisans. Workshop-houses grouped by the different artisan specialties. You can find excellent pieces besides meeting and talking to the artisans.

Surroundings areas from Ayacucho

Quinua (Town of Artisans )

Located at 31Km. (19.2 miles) north of Ayacucho, at 3,396 meters above sea level (11,141 feet). Very close to the Santuario Histórico Pampas de Ayacucho, where the last battle against the Spaniards was fought, giving liberty to our country from the Spanish monarchy.

It is a small town, with little houses all with red tiles and very poor people. Surrounded with little farms and beautiful landscapes.

Its population of only 7,000 inhabitants work in the country and farms, and also are good artisans. These artisans, experts with clay can create very special pieces.

Next to the town is located the archaeological center of Huari. (18 Km)

Huanta

Located at 51 Km (31.7 miles) north of Ayacucho at 2,628 meters above sea level (8,622 feet). Most of the inhabitants of the city have influence in traditions and race from the Spaniards, and it can be distinguished from the indigenous. The country and landscape have the same view as it used to have many years ago.

Near Huanta you can also visit the caves of Piquimachay.

Pampas de Cangallo

Located at 68 km, south of Ayacucho. There live the Morochucos, descendants from the Spaniards that were defeated in the Chupas battle in 1542. They used this area as refuge. Their physical characteristics are like the Spanish race. Devoted to work in the country and very good horsemen. They like to drink alcoholic beverages and leave the hard work for the women.

Santuario Histórico Pampas de Ayacucho

(Historical Sanctuary Pampas of Ayacucho)

Location: Department of Ayacucho, province of Huamanga .

Located on the district of Quinua, intangible and protected area, to safeguard the scenario of the battle of Ayacucho, carried out on December 9, 1824 among the liberator forces under the control of Antonio de Sucre against the Spanish realistic forces under the control The Viceroy Serna. The heroic action of the Perúvian force, Hussars of Junín under the control of Córdoba achieved the victory, getting the capitulation and rendition of the Spanish forces, affirming the total delivery of Perúvian lands to Perúvian people, and the renouncement of the real rights of Spain mainly in Perú and South America .

Santuario Nacional de Titancáyocc

(National Sanctuary of Titancáyocc)

Location: Department of Ayacucho, province of Cangallo .

Intangible area for the conservation of the flora, fauna and archaeological locations; highlights the magnificent goads of Raimondi.

Reserva Nacional de Pampa Galeras

(National Reservation of Pampa Galeras )

Location: Department of Ayacucho, province of Lucanas .

Area: 6,500 hectares.

Creation: 1967.

Conservation unit and protection of species of the fauna and regional flora; it constitutes the intangible area of more extension for the protection of the vicuña, species in danger of extinction.

Beautiful landscapes in an Andean plateau and the best place to know to the vicuñas in wild state.

Their access and visit is advisable from the city of Nazca (90 km)

Vilcashuamán (Quechua voice that means Sacred Falcon)

Archaeological site located in Cangallo, at 110 Km (68 miles) from Ayacucho.

It is recommended to spend one day to visit the city.

Considered as the testimony of power and development of the Chanca pre-Inca civilization. Since the Inca conquest (XV century), they enhanced their building techniques and their importance in the administration of the Empire, as it was considered as the media point of it.

Vilcashuamán formed by a monumental fortress, very similar to the one of Sacsahuamán and Ollantaytambo. There are located the remains of the citadel, the Osno castle, palaces, grain deposits and military observatories, from where they used to have control of the real Inca roads.

From chronicles of Cieza de León (1538), who accompanied the Conquerors, we know that the "Templo del Sol" ( Osno Castle ) had a stone altar, that was decorated with precious stones and gold; behind was the palace of the Inca Túpac Yupanqui, some other rooms and deposits of weapons and clothing.

All this megalithic group of buildings has a big wall that surrounds the area. All with different architectural styles according to their governors. Great trapezoidal porches, pyramidal buildings, stairs made of stone, towers, aqueducts, and wall paintings.

According to the Spanish tradition, they built a Catholic Church over the Templo del Sol, to avoid indigenous believes, destroying like this very important remains.

Huari or Wari

Archaeological site (VII-XI centuries), located near a town called Quinua 20 Km (12.4 miles) north of Ayacucho.

It is advisable to spend half day to visit the city.

Remains of a rounded city. Investigations estimated that it had 40 thousand inhabitants, during its best epoch. Built in stone, with fortresses that were used as administrative headquarters as well as inhabited by indigenous from the Huari pre-Inca culture, later the Chancas conquest the area.

During their development, they used finely carved in stone, figures that were overlapped on plain stone from other constructions corresponding to their first stage.

It has high and thick walls. Also found three floors underground, with many monolithic sculptures, and caves that were used as funeral parlors, called "Chaukallas".

This archaeological center bill with a museum, and the last restorations will offer him an excellent experience.

Piqimachay

Prehistoric remain, located in the city of Huanta . There were found in a cave, stone gadgets from hunters, and extinguished animal fossils. This remains data from 20,000 years ago, becoming the most ancient ones ever found in America .