Descripción de Tour Companies - Sacsayhuaman:

http://www.fertur-travel.com/cusco_tours.html This enormous stone fort on the northern edge of Cusco continues to play an important role in preserving elements of the Inca culture, starting with its awe inspiring array of the empires unmatched stonework.. The stones used to build Saqsayhuaman are the largest found at any Inca ruin, but the masons created perfectly interlocking joins with no mortar or metal tools. The largest stone stands 8 and a half meters high and weighs more than a hundred tons. Experts who believe that Cusco was built in the shape of a puma, say that the fortress forms the head of the animal, and its three rows of zigzag walls are the teeth. But the walls also performed a strategic function. Any besieging army that wanted to charge the walls would expose its flank to defenders hurling missiles from above. It played an important role in the defense of the Empire. Manco Capac II seized it from the conquistadors in 1536. His 11 month siege of Cusco failed and his forces retreated back for a last stand at Ollantaytambo, before taking refuge in the Amazon fortress of Vilcabamba. Saqsayhuaman used to have three stone towers, and had enough buildings to house 5000 soldiers, but for centuries it was used as a ready cut stone quarry for builders in colonial Cusco, so few structures apart from the imposing outer walls still remain. The fortress retains an important ceremonial role. Its the main site of the annual Inti Raymi festival held on the 24th of June, hosting a reenactment of the Incas winter solstice. An actor plays the great Inca emperor Pachacutec, and hundreds of Cusquenians are involved as soldiers, priests and servants in a lavish, three hour production. The festival draws thousands of visitors to Cusco every year. Fertur Peru Travel. A full service travel agency and tour operator dedicated to making your journey to Peru a dream come true.