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Ica is known as an area of sand, sea, oases and valleys, the
cradle of Peru's Creole culture, saints and medicine men,
where the best pisco brandy is distilled and where religious
fervor is strong in the worship of the Señor de Luren
or the Yauca shrine. The sandy wastes of this area gave rise
to major pre-Colombian civilizations, leaving traces that
have survived the ravages of time and wind erosion.
Founded in 1563 by Luis Jerónimo de Cabrera, the city
of Ica, capital of the department of Ica, still features superb
colonial constructions such as the Cathedral and centuries-old
mansions.
The road to Ica provides the traveler with a variety of attractions.
First stop along the way is Chincha, a balmy valley that combines
festivals and tradition and which is the heart of a culture
forged by the descendants of African slaves brought to work
the cotton plantations. A few kilometers further on lies the
Paracas National Reserve, the only protected area in Peru
that includes a marine eco-system. From the pier at Paracas
one can take boatrides out to the Ballestas islands, where
one can spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, flamingos and sea
birds.
South of the city of Ica lies the Huacachina Oasis, and a
few kilometers ahead, the Nazca Lines, an extraordinary legacy
bequeathed by the ancient people of the Nazca culture. The
Lines, an enormous network of lines and drawings of plants
and animals that cover an area of some 350 square km, provide
an unforgettable experience for those who fly over them.
Ica celebrates three major events: the Wine Festival (Ica
is home to many vineyards which produce excellent wines and
pisco) and the festivals of the Señor de Luren and
the Virgen del Carmen of Chincha. This is a good time to try
typical Ica dishes and sweets, as well as to visit the town
of Cachiche, famous for its folk healers who are said to be
able to cure all kinds of ills. |
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