Textiles Tour in Cusco
Visit to PITUSIRAY APU - HUATATA Association - Chinchero
The Inca textile art is one of the oldest textile
traditions of the Andes, and became one of the most developed
during the Inca apogee, by combining different materials
and techniques (the result of the diverse culture of the
achievements gained during other Andean ethnicities),
the Incas were able to produce a wide variety of
clothing and items of daily use.
Highlighted by the Incas their tapestries and superb
mantles of feathers, also of geometric designs.
They had an extraordinary sense of symmetry, as
reflected by the repetition of stylized figures
arranged in a very orderly way. For the Incas
the importance of textiles was religious,
social and political life.
They expressed their worldview, their sense
of space and its divisions. They were symbols of social
status. It is said that the geometric designs, which
appear in some tissues, also served to identify the
Incas and their families. From the political view represented
textile treasures as well as interchangeable products
that taxable cohesion empire.
''Lana'': the raw material indispensable for clothing,
could be obtained from the llamas, which are shaved
every two years, alpaca and vicuña (whose wool is very fine).
Each camelid could provide up to 3 kg.
Designs on textiles
The characteristic stamp of the ornamentation of fabrics is
the contrast between the colors red, black and yellow.
These simple designs could be combined into long strips
or large square or complicated series of small
geometric or zoomorphic figures.
- Tocapu: It is well known us decoration of
weavings based on series of squares with pictures inside it.
- Geometric:The geometric shapes were the most common
eight-pointed stars, diamonds and the various types of crosses.
- Iconográfico:Some experts believe that the series of
reasons for each tocapu equals a hieroglyphic language.
- Zoomorfic:It was a direct reference to indigenous
animals such as camels, llamas, vicuna, etc .- and
all kinds of birds. camélidos -llamas, vicuñas, etc.
Continuity to the present
Inca textile tradition continues today to develop in
different villages of the Andes, having acquired very
different characteristics according to the people who
prepare. Currently there are very Chinchero textiles
recognized for their dedication in developing and
maintaining the tradition as a basis Inca textiles.
ITINERARY
Pick up from hotel and go towards the village of Chinchero,
located approximately 30 km. the City of Cusco. After about 6 km.
more to the weavers who will be waiting for us in a small
town called Huatata, privileged by the impressive sight of
the Andes, they are part of an association that was born in
1986 consisting of 12 partners artisans and producers tissue
prepared by hand with natural dyes.
Currently continuing to improve the techniques without
losing the concept of production to make ancestral ponchos,
chullos, chumpis, Chuspa, blankets, walkways, scarves,
vests, etc.. all manufactured from sheep wool
and alpaca with high quality.
Return to the City of Cusco at approximately 2:00 pm.
End of Tour.