Puno

There are the towns in Peru, in which time seems to freeze: here you can fell the atmosphere of the past most fully, here you can familiarize yourself with the culture and the customs of the indigenous people of South America. Puno can be attributed to such settlements with certainty. It is a small town located on the banks of world famous Titicaca Lake.

The majority of the town's population is the local Aymara and Quechua Indians who, as in ancient times, continue to lead a quiet life, engaged in farming and crafts. Some of them do not speak Spanish, so the dialect of Quechua is the most common here.

Every year the town attracts crowds of tourists who want to enrich themselves spiritually by studying the ancient culture of the local aboriginals and observing of the historic sights of the area. Titicaca Lake, the world's largest lake located in the mountains, is one of the most popular attractions of Puno, not related to human activity.

During the Days of Puno, celebrated annually November 4 and 5, lush costumed processions and dancing in honor of the birth of the Inca Empire are arranged. The Indian legend says that the ancestors of the Incas − Manco Capac and his sister and wife Mama Oklo − came out of the waters of Titicaca Lake and founded the town. They were looking for a place where the golden stick of Manco Capac would enter into the land. After finding it, they founded the town of the Incas.

The town, as well as its surrounding area, is full of historical monuments from different periods, from ancient Indian to the colonial era. The cathedral, located in the main square of Puno, was built in the XVII century by Simon de Astra. This magnificent building is a harmonious mix of baroque with the Peruvian national motifs. The mansion, which was the residence of the Viceroy, the Count de Lemos, is preserved in the town. You can learn about the history of the town in all its details in the Dreyer Municipal Museum, where a collection of household items, jewelry, and pottery of pre-Inca and Inca cultures is gathered and historical documents about the foundation of Puno are stored. Close to the central square of the town the Uahsapata Hill is with the monument to the first Inca − Manco Capac. This hill provides an excellent viewing platform, which offers a splendid view of the town and Titicaca Lake.