»BRIEF HISTORICAL REFERENCE

Ica is an area of great historic past. The first settlers date from 10,000 years ago, from which the Wari, Nazca, Ica and Paracas cultures developed, the latter being the most important.

The Paracas culture developed from the seventh through the second century BC. It is distinguished by its matchless textile skills, Trephinations, and the art of mummifying their dead.

The Nazca culture, on the contrary, well-known for its artistic pottery, in which colorful designs and representations excel over the form, the same as their famous lines and figures that have undergone implausible interpretations. This culture expanded from the second century BC through the seventh century AD. They have left us their wonderful aqueducts that made good use of underground water, of rivers and rain, showing a great knowledge of hydraulic engineering.

In the fifteenth century, during the Inca empire, Pachacutec incorporated the territories of Ica, Nazca and the Chincha valley.

Years later, in 1563, with the arrival of the Spanish, Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera founded the Villa de Valverde del Valle de Ica. Since then, the area became an important vineyard and cotton center.

During the independence war, General José de San Martín landed in Paracas and fixed his headquarters in Pisco, to start the fight for the independence of Perú.

FOLKLORE

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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»MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE CAPITAL

Santuario del Señor de Luren, A sanctuary for the patron of the city whose venerated image is taken out in procession during Holy Week and the third week of October.
Laguna de Huacachina , Only 5 km (3 ml) from the center of the city, it is a perfect oasis surrounded by dunes and palms in a unique landscapde.
Bodegas Vista Alegre., Founded in 1857 by the Picasso family, it is one of the biggest wine cellars of the country, famous for its wine and pure Ica pisco production.
Hacienda Vitivinícola Tacama, Wine production hacienda acknowledged internationally.
Regional Ica Museum., It houses a great collection of fossils, mummies, Paracas mantles, Nazca ceramics, and Colonial and Republican art pieces.
Museo Cabrera.This museum holds a valuable series of engraved stones depicting primitive life scenes. This collection makes a good summary of the origin of the Peruvian civilization before the Inca empire.
Iglesia de La Merced , is located in the main square. It is built in typical Colonial architecture, and has a gorgeous carved altar decorated in gold leaf.
Casonas or Colonial Mansions, Among the most beautiful are, the Marqués de Torre in the Plaza de Armas and Casa Mendiola in Bolívar street.
La Achirana del Inca.It is a 500 years old irrigation channel. Legend says that Inca Pachacutec ordered to built it as a proof of love to a young girl of the city.
CachicheThis is an old town of sorcerers and curanderos (healers), which is part of the Ica folklore. It is surrounded by huarango trees and date palms, giving a mysterious atmosphere to the place.
Los Frailes Stone Forest.At 5 km (3 ml) from the city, the strange forms of the stones in Los Frailes are the result of the erosion produced by the presence of permanent winds in this part of the country. z

PROVINCE OF ICA

Julio C. Tello Museum, At 5 km (3 ml) from Paracas beach, it houses ceramics and textiles depicting daily life scenes, pieces that show the evolution of the Paracas culture. At a short distance, the necropolis of the Cabezas Largas is found.
Paracas National Reserve.Located in the province of Pisco, this reserve covers 335,000 hectares with the objective of housing and caring for several endangered species. Among these species, the sea lion, sea cat, Humbolt penguin, parihuanas or flamingos, turtles and an thousands of marine birds, as well as fish and dolphins. To cross to the Ballestas islands, a rocky formation containing a very important marine fauna, visitors start off at the beautiful Paracas beach resort.
El Candelabro., Gigantic chandelier in bas relief located at the north of Paracas. It has an extension of 128 mt (420 ft) long, and 74 mt (240 ft) wide.

Tambo Colorado Fortress.It is an Inca architectural complex, presumably used as a control station of the Andean migration towards this area.

Chauchilla CemeteryAt 28 km (17 ml) from Nazca, it contains graves opened by huaqueros (tomb-robbers), showing skeletons, skulls and other human remains.

Nazca Lines.At 145 km (90 ml) south of Ica, it is an area of approximately 500 km (310 ml) of Pampa, where the mysterious lines were discovered in 1927. The real dimension of these lines can be fully appreciated by air. They represent diverse animal figures, as a spider, a monkey, a dog, a lizard, a humming bird, and a condor. The dimensions of these figures vary from 15 to 300 mt each (50 to 1,000 ft.) high.

Cahuachi. It is an archaeological area near Nazca. It is formed by several pyramids built with mud walls and separated by open spaces or plazas. It was a ceremonial center.

ChinchaA province located at one hour from Ica. It dates from pre-Inca time and the numerous existing huacas indicate it was a very active center location. Chincha also has a distinct black culture that emerged from the descendants of the cotton plantations slaves.

Casa Hacienda San José.It was built by the Jesuits at the end of the seventeenth century. The chapel has a typical Churrigueresque style altar.


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»CUISINE

Ica is also known by its varied and exquisite cuisine. To Chincha belong dishes, such as, carapulcra (dried potatoes, peanuts and pork meat), and sopa seca or dry soup, a variation of the former dish.

From Ica come the beans and chupe de pallares verdes, based on a milk soup, fish, Chinese shrimp, and, of course, green beans

Among the most known desserts and sweets are, the tejas, frijol colado, alcayote.

Visitors should try the different varieties of wine and pisco (white grape brandy) and during the due season, cachina.


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»TOURIST CALENDAR

March. Fiesta de la Vendimia. Festivity of the great harvest and the good vine. There are parades, floats, wine festivals, gait horse competitions, cockfights, and handicrafts, commercial and industrial fairs. National and foreign artists take part in these events.

Holy Week. The churches receive the people who go to show their grief for Christ on the Calvary. The image of Señor de Luren goes out in the dark in procession throughout the city.

June 10 through 20. Anniversary of the founding of Ica.

August 15. Orange Festival in Palpa.

Last Week in June. The Lemon Festival. Takes place in the district of Olmos, with competitions among lemon producers, dances and popular festivals.

September 1 through 12. Nazca Tourist Week. Handicrafts, commercial, farm and livestock fairs take place.

First Week in September. Several festivities commemorating the landing of the libertarian expedition, guided by General San Martín.

October 6 through 20. Fiesta del Señor de Luren. Religious celebration that starts the first Thursday of the month and ends with a procession on the third Monday of the month.

Last Week in October. Chincha Tourist Week. The founding of the city of Chincha is celebrated with handicrafts and commercial fairs, competitions and artistic presentations.

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