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Inhabitants: 120,000
How to get there
By bus: daily connections from/to Lima
By plane: quick connections from Lima over Cusco: the airport can
be easily reached by taxi or bus.
Best time to travel
The climate in Ayacucho is usually dry and warm, but between December
and March temperatures may fall below zero and rain frequently sets
in.
Activities
Ayacucho is well known for its woolware as well as ceramics. The
region moreover is famous for the decorated wooden cradles. The
hobby archaeologist is welcome to get his own impression of the
Wari culture.
Festivals
Holy Week is especially entertaining in Ayacucho. Simply due to the
fact that all 33 churches in the town contribute to this big event.
On both the main square and the side alleys you will be able to
see the flower carpets and watch the daily procession.
Also winter provides something special: Navidad andino, the andine
way of celebrating Christmas.
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The Spanish founded this settlement
in 1539 but with the name Huamanga. In 1825 the town became known as Ayacucho the
same name as its department
Today the city is mainly famous for the numerous churches which
are said to be found in every cuadra.
Ayacucho is the focus of much Peruvian history creating mixed
feelings with many Peruvians. On the one hand the Spanish army had been defeated in
the last battle of the independence war. On the other hand though
the party "Partido Comunista del Perú por el Sendero
Luminoso del Pensamiento de José Carlos Mariátegui"
was found here in 1970. Years of terror and murderer followed.
About 20 km north lies the former home of the Wari or
Huari culture. The amazing social structure of this civilization
can be seen when visiting the former capital where they existed
from about 550 to 800 AD.
The beautiful textiles out of alpaca, lama or sheep wool as well
as the ceramics and artful claycrafts gave the city its alternative moniker
"Capital of the Artcrafts".
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Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas in Ayacucho is also called Plaza Sucre due to
thet statue of General José de Sucre.
The 17th century cathedral is probably one of the most beautiful
colonial style buildings in the Andes and gives the square its sense of place.
Some little restaurants temp the traveller to stay and enjoy the atmosphere.
Mercado
Dive into the colourful scenery of the market in Ayacucho. Typical
products such as the Piedras de Huamanga, carved figures
of alabaster and the so-called Retablos, small wooden altar boxes
can be purchased here.
Iglesias
It is said that you will find a church in every corner of Ayacucho. More than 33 churches are situated in the small colonial town.
Within one afternoon you could admire nearly all of them and a few
are defenitely worth a visit.
- La Catedral
- Iglesia de San Augustín
- Iglesia de la Compañía
Barrio Santa Ana
Two kilometres away from the centre is the district Santa Ana lurs
with its narrow alleys. The housewalls in this quarter are delicately
stonemasoned. The stone friezes mainly depict people weaving covers,
rugs, ponchos and pullovers of alpaca, lama or sheep wool. This area is well worth a visit.
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