Quispicanchis

Quispicanchi, formerly one of the 16 Corregimientos of Cusco, was created as province by the decree of June 21, 1825. Its capital is Urcos (3,150 meters above sea level). The province has an extension of 7,564.79 km² and a population of 84,067 inhabitants (projection to year 2000), distributed in its 12 districts: Urcos, Andahuaylillas, Camanti, Ccarhuayo, Ccatca, Cusipata, Huaro, Lucre, Marcapata, Ocongate, Oropesa and Quiquijana.

The province, crossed by the western mountain range of Urubamba and the one of Yanacocha, it has a cold climate in its mountain range area and warmer on its valleys. The district of Oropesa, 24 km southwest of Cusco, is called the “Land of the bread” given the excellence, from time back, of numerous homemade backery ovens of adobes (mud bricks) where farm breads of great demand are elaborated. Andahuaylillas is famous due to its church, that dates from 1580 and wich is called “the Sistine Chapel of America”, and its altars are adorned with Pan de Oro (gold plated), the walls and the marks of canvas, the cupola totally adorned with art and polycrom and an old organ with angels and cherubims. Huaro, another important district, was the legendary capital of the wizards during the Inca Empire.

Other places of remarkable interest are the lagoon of Huacarpay, the stone bridge of Quiquijana, the archaeological rests of Rumicolca and Piquillacta and the fabric factories of Urcos and Lucre.