Posted on :05 October 2018
Written by : Andean Hiking
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to tour the magical city of Cusco. Thanks to this getaway, one of the most pleasant memories I have with me now is the visit to the town of Chinchero, a small village on the top of a hill at 3600 meters high, just 40 minutes northeast of Cusco, which its colonial church, ruins, picturesque landscapes and best of all … the chincherina woman who with her simplicity, candor, beliefs, customs and singular sympathy stole more than a smile and sighs of peace.
In Chinchero, highlights the church built during the years of the colony where you can see beautiful canvases of the Cusqueña School, characterized by the exclusive use of religious themes with the predominance of reds, yellows, gold and earth colors. These paintings are the result of the union of two cultures, the European classic and the desire of the indigenous and mestizo painters to express their reality and their vision in sacred art, which have as their goal the cult of the sacred or divine.
Following the tour, we arrived at the Traditional Textile Center of Cusco, a non-profit association led by Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, who conceived the project of rescuing the traditional Andean weavings that were silently disappearing, together with a score of weavers who They gather to recreate with their hands the Andean textile techniques that today are less and less in danger of extinction.
The fabric is part of our history and tradition, I invite you to be part of the meeting of these communities of weavers that constitutes a social event in which the values, the Quechua language and the customs of our ancestors emerge. The design of each piece is so unique that there are not two equal fabrics and each one carries with it the elements of a means of communication with codes and figures that determine the representation of the current Andean world, the worldview, beliefs and ancestral traditions.
Finally, Chinchero offers one of the most important fairs in the region due to the high quality of the handmade products that are sold there, recognized internationally for their excellent work and beauty. On Sundays it is the ideal day to visit it.
