| |
Located in the department of Junín, the city of Huancayo,
nicknamed the Incomparable, is a busy commercial and tourist
city in the midst of the Andes. It is also the living symbol
of a proud people. For centuries, the Mantaro Valley was
dominated by the Huancas, a warring tribe that was an enemy
to the Incas, before finally being conquered by Inca ruler
Pachacútec in the fifteenth century.
The Huancayo townspeople are proud of having kept their
traditions alive, which can be seen from the many monuments
built around the city in honor of the Huanca Identity. Particularly
interesting are the artisans' quarters of Tambo and San
Jerónimo, whose inhabitants have been potters and
silversmiths since the dawn of civilization. Travelers can
also visit the nearby town of Ingenio and lunch on the delicious
fresh rainbow trout bred at the many fish farms in the area.
In other provinces of the department of Junín, such
as Concepción, one can find marvels such as the Ocopa
Convent or Lake Paca in Jauja. Huancayo is also famous for
its cuisine, with exotic dishes such as Papa a la Huancaína
(potato in a spicy cheese sauce), Uman Caldo (sheepshead
broth), Patachi (a bacon and wheat soup) and Huallca Chupe
(chicken and vegetable soup). These are just a few of the
many local recipes that can be sampled to the strains of
local dances such as the Huaylarsh, Chonguinada and Sahapi. |
|
