Virgin of Candelaria in procession
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the city of Puno, this was a village, had
the Bay of Lake Titikaka as its setting, it formed a marginal
population located
between the boundaries of the territories of the Kollas (Quechuas) to the north
and the Lupacas ( Aymara) to the south.
At the end of the 16th century, the south of Puno was under the government of
the Lupacas whose development reached great advances in agriculture, livestock,
social organization and culture. On the other hand, the northern part from what
is now Juliaca, was in the hands of the Kollas, whose domain
extended from the
boundaries of present-day Puno, to the banks of the Ramis River on the
south-eastern side of Lake Titicaca.
The city of Puno was a modest Indian town until the Viceroy Count of Lemos made
it the capital of the province of Paucarcolla, on November 4, 1668. At the same
time, it changed its old name from San Juan Bautista de Puno to San Carlos. from
Puno.
The period of peace had ended in 1781 when the Indian revolutions fought for
their independence like the one led by Tupac Katari. In the war of independence
at the beginning of the 19th century, Puno became an important connecting city
between Peru and the Río de la Plata in Argentina.
After independence in 1821 Puno was the scene of the battle between Peru and
Bolivia, the latter occupying the Peruvian territories as far as Tacna and
Moquegua, until the signing of the 1847 convention.
The port of Puno has steamships that date back to the beginning of the republic,
which were transported from Arica (Chile) to Lake Titikaka for the transport of
minerals and passengers from Bolivia, the same ones that are preserved today, as
well A railway was built that interconnects the departments of Cuzco and
Arequipa, which are also still in service. In the second half of the 17th
century (1657) the Viceroy Count of Lemos (Pedro Fernández de Castro) moved the
port of San Luís de Alba to what is now Puno and founded the town of the
Immaculate Conception and San Carlos de Puno on 9 of November 1663 and on
November 4 of that year, he declares it the capital of the province of
Paucarcolla (date that is celebrated every year). After having suffocated a
confrontation between Spaniards over the famous Laykacota mines, the same ones
that the brothers José and Gaspar Salcedo were buried and executed.
The province of Puno was created by a decree of May 2, 1854 and is the capital
of the department today Puno Region.
Among the most emblematic dances is La Diablada, an expression of Andean-Christian religious syncretism that represents the fight between good and evil. Its origin dates back to 1577, when the Jesuits settled in Juli, current capital of the province of Chucuito, where comedies and sacramental plays were presented on Christian holidays. Through these theatrical manifestations, the Jesuit missionaries taught the Aymara people the seven deadly sins in the form of a dance, and how angels defeat demons.
Dancers 'Diablada'Another of the dance expressions with great popular roots in Puno is the Pandilla, which, unlike other dances that bear the same name in other regions of Peru, is performed slowly and expresses the chivalry of the man and the elegance of the Puno lady. .
The sikuri is the authentic expression of the people of Puno. The siku or
zampoña, is a pentaphonic Andean instrument is composed of various sound tubes
of different calibers in length and diameter. Added to this instrument is the
bass drum, with which a musical symbiosis is generated that accompanies the
performers-dancers who advance by taking steps forwards and backwards,
complemented with circular movements.
This dance derived from the Tuntuna is performed with much more ornate and
colorful costumes and with even more acrobatic movements. The music of each
dance differs from one another, keeping the same melodic line of Afro-Peruvian
inspiration.
Word that comes from Quechua, whose meaning is "teaches" or "flag", although it can also mean joy. It has its origin in the district of Ayaviri, province of Melgar, as well as in the districts of Asillo and Muñani, in the province of Azángaro. This Puno dance was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation on October 2, 2014.
At 3,812 meters above sea level, the highest navigable lake in the world is
located in the Peruvian highlands, Lake Titicaca, in Puno. In it you can find
the Floating Islands of the Uros, built of reeds, an aquatic plant that grows on
the surface of Lake Titicaca. The totora is woven and spread over another layer
of it to build the surface of each island.
In the lake there are approximately 100 floating islands, and the mobilization
is carried out in rafts also based on reeds. Its inhabitants are hospitable and
dedicated to tourism, and you can get a stamp in your passport in one of the
largest islands.
These islands are inhabited by the Uros, one of the oldest cultures on the
continent which dates back to times before the Incas. The inhabitants of this
floating community claim to own the waters of Lake Titicaca. The subsistence of
the Uros community is based on fishing and hunting; They are also dedicated to
the elaboration of wool tapestry fabrics and the stuffing of animals. On the
other hand, they participate in tourist activities: There are tours to the
Floating Islands of the Uros for a few hours, but also complete experiences in
which you become part of the Uros community.
Uros Island, Puno
The charm of Lake Titicaca is lived intensely in islands such as Taquile and
Amantaní, where the history that is kept in the memory of its people is
expressed in wonderful fabrics, true works of art recognized worldwide. In
Taquile you can climb 560 steps to reach the town, where you will get unique
views of the lake.
Amantaní is a good option for lunch during your day, since all the local food is
harvested on the same island, which gives it a special value. In the same way,
it is ideal to enjoy a trout, as it is one of the most important foods of
Titicaca.
Amantani Island - Puno
The artisan market of the Port of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, is one
of the best places to shop in all of Peru. Located on the shores of Lake
Titicaca on its Peruvian side, the Port of Puno is a good place to buy
traditional handicrafts from the people of the Altiplano. If you visit the city,
it is almost obligatory to go around its craft fair and do some shopping for
unique objects. You can boast of having acquired a souvenir in one of the
highest ports in the world, at more than 3800 meters of altitude.
It is quite normal that, since there are so many stalls, there is competition
for customers, making prices more affordable for tourists who want a souvenir or
gift. It is a good place to enjoy crafts and painting, although it also has
places to have lunch, so you can spend a good couple of hours calmly. In fact,
the people of Puno have traditionally only had two sources of wealth; on the one
hand, fishing and, on the other, artisanal production. In other words, what we
buy here has a guarantee of authenticity.
¿Quieres tener una idea de cómo se ve Puno desde las alturas? Entonces
es un buen plan conocer los miradores de Kuntur Wasi y Puma Uta, ambos
imperdibles lugares turísticos de Puno. Kuntur Wasi tiene en su cima un
cóndor, el patrono vigilante de la ciudad. Desde aquí te puedes sentir
como uno de ellos en vuelo, y obtener increíbles vistas de Puno y el
Titicaca.
Puma Uta tiene una idea similar, pero esta vez con una escultura gigante
de un puma (y otros animales) en un mirador ideal para divertirse y
admirar la magia de estas tierras. Además, un poco de actividad física
nunca viene mal.
Puma Ata viewpoint, Puno
The home of the Virgen de la Candelaria should not be left out of your list.
Both the virgin and the temple have existed since 1580. However, a fire
destroyed much of the structure, and it was rebuilt in 1887 in its current form.
Since the construction of the San Juan Bautista Temple, it has always been a
place of prayer for suffering people, whether it be exploited miners, abused
indigenous people, the poor and marginalized, always a place of prayer for poor
and humble people. The Image of the Virgin of Candelaria is venerated from the
year 1580 in the Temple. The construction is made of adobe and represents part
of the identity of Puno, the virgin being the patron saint of Puno and receiving
visits from thousands of faithful every February.
1. Ritual festival of the Payment to the Earth (Pacha Mama). Date: January 18
2. Virgen de la Candelaria Date: from February 2 to 18
3. Holy Week in Puno Date: from March 24 to 3
4. Festival of Santiago apostle Festival of Santiago apostle
5. National Holidays Date: July 28
6. Capac Ccolla staging Date: September 7
7. Anniversary of the foundation of Puno Date: from November 1 to 30
