Inca Citadel Fortress
This was once the citadel fortress of the Incas, where the Incas and Spanish colonizers fought their fiercest battle. Unfortunately, sticks were no match for gunpowder, and the Incas were slaughtered, attracting flocks of Andean condors. As a result, the military uniforms in Cusco now bear the emblem of eight condors to commemorate this tragedy. From the ruins, you can overlook the Cathedral of the Plaza de Armas below. Ironically, the building materials there all came from here.
Pisac Ruins
Inca Civilization Ruins: PISAC, heading north from Sacsayhuaman, nearly 30 kilometers away is the famous Urubamba Valley in Cusco, also known as the Sacred Valley by the Incas. It is said that this is the place where condors fly. The Urubamba River originates from Cusco, passes through the Andes Mountains, and eventually merges into the Amazon. There are many ruins from the Inca civilization here, and Pisac is one of them. It is said to be the Shangri-La of the Andes.
Ollantaytambo
Inca Temple: OLLANTAYTAMBO, one of the best-preserved Inca sites. For over 700 years, there have been no significant changes here. Besides being a military fortress, it is also a temple. Unfortunately, I missed the ceremonial area as I had no interest in going up. The legendary story here is that it is one of the few places where the colonizers suffered a major defeat. The small town in the valley remains as it was, guarding tradition and civilization.
