24/07/2026
The Church of Yanque
This white church you're looking at has been standing in Yanque's plaza since the 17th century, with that facade carved in sillar stone that almost looks like lace - classic mestizo baroque from the Colca Valley, where local artisans blended Catholic imagery with flowers, birds, and Andean symbols. Inside, the gilded altarpiece holds the Virgin Immaculate, the town's patron saint, surrounded by other Marian figures set among carved shells and columns. And yes, you'll often see scaffolding on the tower - this is earthquake country, so upkeep never really stops.
The Wititi
And right there in that same plaza, many mornings the dance kicks off: the Wititi, the valley's most beloved dance. The funny part is the men dance dressed as women, in embroidered skirts and shawls, cracking their slings to the beat of quenas and drums. It's not just a show for tourists - it's a courtship dance rooted in the old Collagua and Cabana cultures, still danced by the people of Yanque themselves during their patron saint festivities, part of who they are rather than a performance staged for visitors.
Colca Canyon - Peru
