Volcanic Ash Stone Church
This is a church high up in Arequipa – Peru. It is made from volcanic ash stone . The famous Santa Catalina Monastery and many of the houses are made from this stone ( stillo) and the city’s name is known as Cuidad blanco – the white city because of this.
There are 3 volcanoes which are a backdrop to this beautiful city- El Misti, Pichu Pichu and Chachara – all from 17000ft to 20000ft in height.
Held in the Museo Juanita ( Arequipa) is the frozen body of the Princess Juanita who was found after 500 years on El Misti ( 3 other mummies were found there at different times too) . They had been sacrificed to the Gods as young boys and girls . The story is that The Princess ( and the other sacrifices I assume – as this was the Inca custom) was drugged before she made the long hike in freezing conditions ( in bare feet) to the summit of El Misti with the priests. No doubt she was also exhausted. The mummies were only found as some of the ice cap had started to melt. She is kept in freezing conditions in a closed glass coffin in the Museum . A little horrifying to see such a young girl with a very unpleasant expression on her face. I assumed she had died in agony!!
Volcanic Ash Stone Church belongs to the following groups:
Friends, Heritage in Stone and Travel and Adventure Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints and Mounted Prints
Anne-Marie Bok...
Beautiful picture and amazing history Liz. As I understood it they found lot’s of graves with young people being sacrificed to their Gods. It’s also amazing these buildings are still standing there with all the earthquakes they had over the years.
Braedene replied
Yes it is Anne Marie – Peru fascinated me. The Mayans ( I discovered with my last riding trip to Belize) also made human sacrifices. Help!!
Wanda Raines
Beautifully captured. Did you take pictures of the volcanoes?
Braedene replied
Yes,, I did – i got two in one pic from the tarmac when I landed in the plane at Arequipa and then another from the church and also from the tarmac . Thank you.
Antanas
very good capture
Braedene replied
Thank you very much .
Kate Adams
Beautiful capture Liz!!.. and such an interesting narrative..did you have breathing problems with the altitude up there?..this is on my wish list always wanted to go there.
Braedene replied
Thank you so much Kate – no I didn’t but you are advised to take the coca leaves in a tea drink every day – which I did. It’s not so much the breathing that’s affected – more altitude sickness is the result of these heights- which on e of the group suffered from when we were riding about 15000 ft in the Andes on the old Inca trails. I spent 6 days before going riding and after Arequipa went on to Lake Titicaca – the highest navigable lake in the world so Cusco is lower – about 10 000ft and Machu Picchu is about 12 000ft . I suppose by the time I was riding in the mountains I was acclimatized to the heights. Or lucky! I climbed Wayna Picchu – which overlooks MP – if you can visit – it is everything the pictures show you but more because you walk the paths the Incas did . Wonderful experience.
dawndavies
wow how interesting, dawnx
Braedene replied
Thank you Dawn – was fascinating.
Karen Checca
Another wonderful adventure you’ve taken me on, LIz! Beautiful capture of this old church; just amazing! Love the narrative and history, though I’m not sure I’d want to see the coffin! YIKES! LOL :)Karen
Braedene replied
Thank you Karen – I hadn’t known about the Ice Princess so it came as a bit of a shock when I learned about the young human sacrifices and actually seeing her in that glass coffin was spellbinding
PrincessVicki
Such an intricate building! I bet it was great to visit! Really well done! x
Braedene replied
Yes, it was Vicki- Lee – beautiful old buildings in Peru.
Virginia N. Fred
Wow nice capture I see your travels continue, iinteresting info to go with….gina
Braedene replied
Yes, they do Gina – booked up for riding in Mongolia in September – should be interesting!! Thank you so much for your continued interest. Liz
Anne-Marie Bok...
LYN EVANS
What a beautiful building.
Braedene replied
Thank you Lyn- it looked out to one of the volcanoes through beautiful white stone arches.
shaneran
congratulations on being featured ... Amazing building and wonderful history … awful about the human sacrifice though ! great capture !!
Braedene replied
Thank you so much – such a nice surprise to see it featured. Liz
Gene Walls
That is a truly beautiful photograph of an extremely interesting structure. I loved you description! Congratulations on your “feature”, it is obviously very well deserved!
Braedene replied
Thank you Gene for your lovely comment. Liz
marianne troia
congratulations liz – beautiful photo with a very interesting comments.
marianne
Braedene replied
Thank you Marianne – appreciate all the comments