2. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
Province of Puno
Cathedral of the City of Puno
The cathedral was built in the seventeenth century
and the Peruvian Architect Simon de Asto its façade.
This Spanish Baroque church includes Andean
elements that give the monument its mixed
character.
Huajsapata Hill
Hujsapata means “witness of my love”. It is a natural
lookout dominating the city and Lake Titicaca. At the
top, there is a monument to Manco Capac, founder
of the Inca Empire. They say that there are caverns
and subterranean pathways in the hill that connect
Puno to the Koricancha Temple in the city of Cusco.
3. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
Lake Titicaca
Peru and Bolivia share sovereignty over this
navigable lake, the highest in the world (3810 masl /
12.497 fasl). It covers an area of 8559km2 (3305
miles2) a maximum depth of 283 meters (928 feet).
Moreover, the lake tempers the area since without
its presence; there would not be life at that altitude.
On the Peruvian side of the Lake Titicaca, there are
several islands: the natural islands include Amantani,
Taquile, Soto, and Anapia, and the artificial islands
are the ones that the Uros people have built, each
one offering different attractions. Along the shores of
the lake, totora reeds grow where different birds and
fish like the carachis, ispis, bogas, umantos, suches
(an endanger specie), silverfish, and trout call home.
All these species are native of the area and are prized
for their high nutritional value.
4. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
Floating islands of the Uros
The Uros Islands number around 20 and are located
in the Bay of Puno. Three to ten Uro-Aymaras
families live on each one. They roof their houses with
totora reed carpets, although some families have
replaced their traditional roofs by metal ones. The
largest Island are Tupiri, Santa Maria, Tribuna,
Toranipata, chumi, Paraiso, Kapi, Titino, Tinajero, and
Negrone.
Uros call themselces Kotsuña, “the lake people”, and
their origins go back to eras before the Incas. They
hunt wild birds and maintain traditional fishing
methods, especially those used for the carachi and
the silverfish. The men are skillful handlers of the
totora reed boats, and the women are expert
knitters. The characteristics cold and dry weather of
the region is tempered in this area thanks to the
constantly evaporating water of the large lake.
5. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
Taquile Island
Pre-Inca vestiges are found in the highest part of the island.
During the Colonial period and up to the first years of the
first years of the twentieth century, it was used as a political
prison, until the island became property of the Taquile
people in 1970. The town of the same name, Taquile, is
characterized by its friendly inhabitants, who maintain their
customs and traditional clothing. They distinguish
themselves by their detailed, fine, and colorful textiles with
symmetrical decorations and symbols that reflect their way
of life, customs, and Andean beliefs.
Chucuito District
It is also known as the Royal Treasure City because it used
to be the tax collection center during the Colonial era. It
features a main square and the Renaissance churches of
Santo Domingo (sixteenth century) and La Asuncion
(seventeenth century). Also you can find the Inca Uyo
Archeological site, which name means “house of the Inca”
in aymara language.
6. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
Amantani Island
Amantani covers some 9km2 (3.5 miles2). The flora is
characterized by the presence of bushes like the muña, the
kantuta, the sage, the tola and the patamuña. Eight
communities live on the island and make their living from
growing potatoes, corn, oca, quinoa, limabeans, and green
peas, and their most representative handcrafts are textiles
and stone carvings. Among its natural attractions, there are
two lookouts on the highest part offering a view of the
entire lake, some pre-Hispanic remains, ceremonial centers
and mummy cementery.
Sillustani Archeological complex
This complex stands on the shore of Lake Umayo. It is
famous for its Chullpas, large circular fortified burial towers
for the main leaders of the early villages of the Collao
plateau. Some are 12 meters high (39 feet), and remarkable
for their shape, thinner at the base and wider at the top.
Close to the archeological complex is the site museum
where different pieces from the Colla, Tiahuanaco, and Inca
cultures are preserved.
7. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
Province of Lampa
Lampa
Lampa is the capital of the province, and it is known
as the “Pink City” for the color of its walls. One of the
highlights is the Church of James the Apostole, also
known as the Sistine Chapel because it houses a
replica of the Pieta by Michelangelo. There, you find
vast forests of queñua trees, Puya Raimondis and
chinchilla breeding grounds among other attractions.
Pucara
Pucara is famous for its pottery, especially the well-
known “Toritos de Pucara” (Little Bulls of Pucara).
The ucara stone Museum, displaying a group of
stones monolith-like sculptures, steel, zoomorphic
sculptures, ceramics, and other objects. Is also worth
a visit.
8. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
Province of Moho
Considered the “Garden of the Altiplano” because of
its warm microclimate and variety of roses, Moho
has diverse archeological sites and natural and
cultural attractions. In the surrounding areas, you
find the town of Conima, the Church os San Miguel
Arcangel, built in 1825 with an interior image of the
archangel, patron saint of the town of Conima and
the monolith of Huata, 5km away.
Province of San Antonio de Putina
The waters have an average temperature of 39C
(102F) and a high percentange of sodium chloride,
magnesium and zinc. Its inhabitants believe they are
good for rheumatic and skin diseases. In Cala and
Picotani, other surrounding villages, you can see
South American camelids like vicuñas or alpacas. In
the area of Bellavista, there are also forests of Puya
Raimondi.
9. PUNO: THE FOLKLORIC CAPITAL OF PERU
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