- Address: Cusco, Peru
- Working hours: daily from 7-00 to 17-30
Saksayuaman is an ancient fortress of the great Incas, located not far from Cuzco , an outpost of the city. If you look at the city plan resembling a puma, then Sisaiwaman is just in place of her mouth. The landmark is famous for its megalithic architecture and the fact that Juan Pissarro was killed during her assault. You can find different versions of the translation of the name "Saksayuaman": "Full-bred hawk" (translated from the Quechua dialect), "Filled Falcon", "Royal Eagle", "Marble Head" and even "Birds of Prey of Gray Stone."
Sacsayhuaman and Cusco were connected with each other by labyrinths, which were located under the towers of the fortress: underground passages led to the palaces of Hurin Cuzco and Coricancha . Also their towers through the labyrinth could be reached into the secret shelter of the ruling family. Entering the fortress Saksayuaman had the right only the Incas, although if necessary to accommodate it could have all the inhabitants of Cuzco. In the event of a siege, water and supplies were stored here. It is believed that the fortress was erected between 1493 and 1525, but many scholars hold the view that in fact it is much older.
Saksayuaman today
From the side of the city, the fortress Saksayuaman did not need protection - the mountain here has too much angle of inclination. But on the other hand, it is protected by 3 parallel rows of six-meter-high battlements erected from gray limestone. The length of the walls is from 360 to 400 meters. Some stone blocks, of which the walls were built, weigh about 350 tons. Dimensions of the blocks are striking: height - 9 meters, width - 5, thickness - 4 meters. At the same time, the Inca civilization did not know the wheels! That is, the stones had to move from the quarry to the site of construction of the fortress by drag! According to the official scientific version, based on these data, about 70 thousand people took part in the construction.
However, the Spaniards, who captured the fortress and thoroughly destroyed everything they could - the stones they used to build houses in Cusco - could not make out the walls, because for them the stone blocks were too big and heavy. Therefore, they believed that the Inca built Saksa'yuaman with the help of demons. The buildings at the top of the mountain and the overlapping of the dungeons were completely disassembled. In the twentieth century, they were restored, but to fill the voids were used just small stones, so you can not say that the fortress looked exactly like that.
Near the walls of the fortress are carved to the rock seats, bearing the name "Throne of the Inca". According to the surviving evidence, while sitting on this throne, Inka met the sunrise; during the holidays, the mummies of the previous Inca were brought here.
The fortress of Sacsayhuaman is one of Peru's most famous landmarks. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, including due to the solar calendar of the great Incas in it. And the calendar, and the fortress of megalithic architecture itself attracts a lot of tourists.
The Mystery of Sacsayhuaman
The mountain top on which the fortress is located is artificially aligned. The stones adjoin each other very tightly, besides they are very carefully processed. The stones have an original shape, and it is unclear how the "puzzles" matching each other were found. The mystery of Saksyyuaman's stones has been the subject of debate among scientists for many years: some of them believe that with the Inca level of technology available in the Inca Empire, they simply could not build a fortress by themselves. There is also a version that the Incas could dissolve stones with the help of juices of some plants - in some places the blocks appear "cast" or "fashioned" rather than hewn. At least, it is almost impossible to erect such a structure with the help of "primitive" technologies.
How and when to visit the fortress?
To visit Sacsayhuaman is for anyone who visited Peru. You can get to the fortress from Cusco on foot - the journey will take from half an hour to an hour (depending on your "pedestrian" speed). From Plaza de Armas you need to go along the street Plateros, then Saphi, and then up the road. You can do this journey by car in 10 minutes. In the fortress there are 2 entrances, but a general tourist ticket can be purchased near Control OFEC. The fortress can be visited on any day of the week, from 7 am to 17:30.
Every year on June 24, the fortress holds an important festival for Peru - the festival of the sun, so if you get into it at this time, you can become a participant in a colorful and colorful action.
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