From Azogues
to Ingapirca
Azogues
has a population
of 21,000
and is located
at an altitude
of 2,518 metres.
Saturdays
are market
days.
Country dwellers
take their
animals to
the cattle
market to
negotiate
their sale.
The majority
of the animals
up for sale
are pigs and
cows.
It's fascinating
to see the
hustle and
bustle of
the city on
Saturdays
and the bartering
that goes
on between
the buyers
and sellers.
The
city's main
square is
a nucleus
of intense
activity,
where the
Convent of
the Franciscan
Fathers (Convento
de los Padres
Franciscanos)
is situated.
In the temple's
interior,
you can observe
the "Virgen
de la Nube"
(the Virgin
of the Cloud),
which is an
important
figure of
worship.
From
Azogues the
road continues
north.
Near to Biblian
there are
several cheese
manufacturing
businesses
run by local
proprietors
and their
families.
Continuing
past Biblian,
the Sanctuary
of the Virgin
of Rocio (la
Virgen del
Rocio) is
located in
the upper
sector.
The landscape
is an extensive
valley flanked
by the junction
of Azuay.
The land is
cultivated
in sections
divided into
small fields.
Broad beans,
wheat, barley,
potatoes are
the main agricultural
products cultivated
in the area.
The
Temple of
Ingapirca
(El Templo
de Ingapirca)
In
1582 Fray
Gaspar de
Gallegos,
the priest
of San Francisco
Peleusi de
Azogues wrote:
"Generally
speaking they
are called
Canares, because
three leagues
away from
here there
is a town
called Hatun
Canar, which
in Inga means
'The Great
Province of
the Canares'.
It is said
that during
the epoch
of Inga Guaynacaba
there were
large Indian
populations
and that the
principal
chief of the
Canares was
situated there..."
Ingapirca
has been visited
by some extremely
important
figures.
In 1736 French
academics
Jorge, Juan
and Antonio
de Ullia visited
the sight
to begin carrying
out research.
In the same
year the wise
Condamine
wrote:
"The
fortress in
its current
state is composed
of an artificial
embankment
at an elevation
of 14, 15
and 18 feet
high.
In the middle
of the embankment
there is a
square room
which was
probably used
by Atalaya".
June
1987 saw the
opening of
the museum
which is situated
100 metres
away from
the archaeological
ruins.
One of the
most important
and outstanding
features of
the area is
the chapel,
an eliptic
construction
measuring
37x13 metres
at an altitude
of 3.7 metres.
The outer
walls are
made of perfectly
assmebled
'cushion'-like
stones.
There are
two rooms
which were
almost certainly
used for sun
worship in
the chapel.
Descending
down some
large steps
down from
the embankment
the chambers
can be found,
which were
probably destined
for the 'virgins
of the sun'.
Further down
there are
the remains
of what was
most likely
a plaza and
living area,
discovered
in 1970 by
Juan Cueva
Jaramillo.
Nearby is
the site known
as Pilaloma,
which appears
to have been
the first
Canari construction
where there
is a solar
monolith.
Ingapirca
Museum (El
museo de Ingapirca)
This
museum is
of particular
historical
and cultural
interest.
The museum
relates the
history of
the province,
for example,
from 1200
to 1480 Ingapirca
was the main
political-religious
centre of
the Canari
population.
From 1470-1480
the area managed
to survive
the Inca invasion.
In 1500 the
Canari town
was destroyed
by Inca Tupac
Yupanqui and
rebuilt as
an Inca town
by Huayna
Capac.
In 1530
the Spanish
conquered
Ingapirca.
The Canaris
were apparently
a relatively
well developed
culture and
archaeologists
have identified
several ramifications
such as Narrio,
Talcazhapa,
Cashaloma,
Huancarcucho,
Challumbamba
and Monjashuaico.
The Ingapirca
museum exhibits
a number of
pieces from
these cultures
such as ceramic
cups, metal
objects, metallurgy,
copper and
gold in particular,
which were
almost definitely
made using
the regions
natural resources.
Ingapirca
literally
means 'wall
of the Inca'.
The
Virgin of
the Cloud
(La Virgen
de la Nube)
In
the Sanctuary
of the Franciscan
Fathers in
Azogues, the
Virgen de
la Nube is
an object
of adoration.
The story
of the adoration
of the Virgin
dates back
to colonial
times when
Bishop Sancho
de Andrade
y Figueroa
(1696) became
ill and during
a ceremony
in which faithful
citizens prayed
for him to
get better,
an image of
the Virgin
Mary appeared
in the sky
above a white
cloud between
Guapulo and
el Quinche.
The
altar of the
Virgen de
la Nube can
be observed
in the Sanctuary
of Guapulo.
Therefore,
the question
is raised
of why it
is situated
in Azogues.
The answer
is simple.
At the beginning
of the century,
when the Franciscans
closed the
Convent of
Cuenca, Father
Matovelle
decided to
take the this
object of
adoration
to the new
Franciscan
convent in
Azogues.
Last
Updated 3rd
August 2006
(DLW)
