14:19 | Cusco (Cusco region), May. 28.
Cusco has started to regain its splendor and once again becomes a major destination for tourism worldwide. In fact, it stands out among other cities in the globe, according to the list of
the best places to go in May released by the Australian daily
The Age.
Thus, Fiesta de las Cruces or Cruz Velacuy stands out among the above-mentioned festivities and traditions.
Cruz Velacuy is an Andean religious celebration that has been held in early May in different provinces, districts, and neighborhoods of Cusco since the 18th century to worship crosses, which are sacred symbols located at churches and centers of worship.
Likewise, the writer mentions the pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Riti, which encompasses a great variety of cultural expressions and where elements from Catholicism and the worship rendered to pre-Hispanic gods are mixed.
Said pilgrimage offers a meeting place for communities located at different heights in the Andes mountain range.
The massive festival in honor of the Lord of Qoyllur Riti, which is celebrated in the district of Ocongate, is one of the most fabulous manifestations of ancestral Andean and Christian religious and cultural syncretism.
This festivity brings together thousands of pilgrims, who show their devotion to the "Christ of the rock" with prayers, dances, and music.
It is celebrated from late May to mid-June and features different delegations from the Quechua communities, as well as devotees and tourists who undertake a challenging pilgrimage to the snowy Colke Punku, which is located 4,800 meters above sea level and is part of the Vilcanota mountain range, one of the most beautiful groups of mountains in Peru and the rest of the world.
The article recommends that Australian tourists head to Cusco in May to enjoy adventure activities like hiking the Inca Trail, as well as must-visits to sites such as the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, taking advantage of the beginning of the season.
(END) NDP/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 5/28/2023