Chan Chan City of Palaces
Duration: 3 hours
Tour Code: sla-002
Price:
$129.00 per person
Free
Chan-Chan is one of the most spectacular cities, and the largest construction of mud in the New World. It was once the capital of the Chimu Civilization, predecessors of the ancient Incas. Upon arrival in Chan-Chan, your walking tour will commence.
Chan-Chan is virtually a city of palaces, and must be seen to be believed. The city walls enclose eight square miles of buildings, including small wattle and daub huts, medium-sized adobe brick houses, and the huge fortresses, or palaces, of the era's nobility. These palaces typically contained many rooms and patios, and were surrounded by their own walls. Your guide will explain the significance of the intricate relief's and patterns carved into these walls. Each palace also contained ceremonial courtyards, some decorated with a repeating design of birds or animals. The smallest courtyards were thought to be the most important and only accessible to the inner circle. Ironically, these courtyards lacked ornamentation or decoration, which has baffled archeologists for ages. It is now thought that these courtyards were once festooned with amazing weavings and fabrics, which the Chimu people held more valuable than gold and silver. Often a palace was abandoned once its noble owner died, and a new one constructed next door. As a result, these amazing buildings range in age from 900 and 1470 AD.
Please note: Comfortable shoes are a must, as there are ramps and stairs to negotiate at the site. Sunscreen and a hat are essential. These areas are going through a continuous process of excavation.