Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo (Eng. memory of my God ) is a city in the southern part of Peru ( province of Urubamba, Cusco region ) and lies about 60 km northwest of Cusco and 21 km from Urubamba. The city lies at an altitude of 2792 meters on the river Urubamba. According to legend, their god Viracocha to have the Inca instructed to build the city.

Ollantaytambo is the only remaining example of urban planning from the Inca period. The buildings and Inca terraces, and narrow streets of the city are still in their original condition. The straight and narrow streets make up 15 square blocks ( canchas ) each have an input to the central courtyard, which is surrounded by houses. Some noble houses consist of perfectly crafted Inca walls of dark pink stone. The Inca built in Ollantaytambo administrative, agricultural, military, and religious institutions.

On the mountain side facing Ollantaytambo is an impressive Inca complex, which is called on account of its extraordinarily strong walls, commonly fortaleza (German bulwark or fortress ) is located. In fact, this complex was strategically located to dominate the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here Manco Capac II also moved to the fall of Cuzco back to the conquistadors, to gather his remaining soldiers.

Monoliths in Ollantaytambo

Temple in Ollantaytambo

From the Inca carved into rock faces