The World Monuments Fund (WMF) is a heritage preservation movement which, through programmes such as the World Monuments Watch, advocates for the protection of sites across the globe, each more extraordinary than the last.
Including several in Peru.
1. The Chankillo site
This complex, dedicated to the sun, is thought to be the oldest solar calendar discovered in Peru. A temple made up of a fort and 13 astronomical towers, it was built by the Chavín civilisation well before the sun cult of the Inca Empire.
2. The Pachacamac sanctuary
Located south of Lima, this archaeological site is a major religious complex comprising imposing monuments such as the Temple of the Sun, the Painted Temple and the Temple of the Moon.
3. The Machu Picchu sanctuary
The sacred city of the Inca Empire, a true “lost city” with its temples, terraces and palaces, Machu Picchu is regarded as a highly symbolic work of this civilisation’s architecture.
4. The churches of San José and San Javier
Located in the Nazca region and a symbol of Jesuit prosperity in the 18th century, the churches of San José and San Javier feature façades richly decorated in the emblematic style of Baroque architecture.
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5. The archaeological site of Pikillaqta
Tucked a few kilometres from Cuzco, the former capital, Pikillaqta — “the City of Lice” — was a major urban and ceremonial centre of the Huari civilisation.
6. The church of San Francisco de Asis
Built at the end of the 16th century in the Marcapata valley, this church has been restored using maintenance techniques passed down from generation to generation. It displays a magnificent Baroque architecture born of the blending of Spanish and Andean cultures.
7. Tambo Colorado
The best-preserved monument of the Inca Empire, located in Humay on Peru’s coast, it was built under the reign of Pachacutec. Its name means “Red Relay Station”, referring to the dominant colour of its walls; this town conceals a complex maze of alleyways and staircases, squares, and palaces richly decorated with the famous trapezoidal Inca niches.
8. The church of Santa Cruz de Jerusalén
The cultural and religious centre of the 16th-century Jesuit community based in Juli, this granite church blends Baroque architecture with local traditions.
9. San Pedro Apostol de Andahuaylillas
Built by the Jesuits in the 16th century, this church in the Cuzco region is known as “Peru’s Sistine Chapel” for the beauty of its murals, and is also famous for its two organs, the oldest in the Americas.
