Semana Santa Day 4- Part IV

Sacred Valley, A guided adventure in 4 parts
Chinchero

It is getting dark and we are driving on, out of the Sacred Valley back towards Cusco. In the distance we can see the snowcapped mountains of Mt. Veronica (Wilca Wanka) and Puma’s Paw (Puma Wanka). As the sun is setting we pull into the small village of Chinchero, or the birthplace of the rainbow. We take the small cobblestone streets up the hillside. Here villagers have their stores open and are sitting drinking their coca tea and watching the tourists parade up the hill. The time of day is perfect and the street lights bathe the street in a warm and inviting glow.

As we reach the top of the hill the street opens into a small square outside the church. A small market is set up here and children play in the grassy area in the center. The backdrop to this city square is a massive Incan wall that now sits just below the colonial church. The church is built on the old Incan foundation and stones of the former religious, political, and military complex were used to build the church.

We look off to our left into the darkened valley were there are remains of the Incan fortress that sat along the old Inca road between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Due to our late arrival it is very difficult to see and the chill of the altitude is starting to set in. We head to the inside of the church to see the artwork and get warm.

This church dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat and has a large beautiful alter with hundreds of mirrors used to reflect the alter candle light into the room. In small alcoves, with large Incan walls there are beautiful 17th century paintings from the Cusco school. Many of the paintings portray Mary’s life, including her childhood. This theme of Mary’s early life is seen in many works of art throughout Cusco and causes us to reflect and question how much of her early life is known and recorded. Neither of us remember any mention of her childhood in our Sunday school classes.

At around 7:00pm we leave the church and wind our way back through the streets of town. We stop and look at a few vendors’ wares and then climb back onto the bus for the 20 minute ride back to town.