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Standing tall on mountainside, we could see him from Plaza de Armas.
Cristo Blanco, the Statue of the White Christ.
Though not as large as Christ the Redeemer in Rio, this statue was a gift from Palestinian Christians in 1945, as a token of gratitude for the refuge they received in the city after World War II. Keeping watch over the city with open arms, the sculpture beckons tourists to take a closer look and to gaze out over the sprawling city of Cusco.
Designed by local artist Francisco Olazo Allende, who also designed the Santa Clara archway leading into Cusco’s San Francisco Square, the parts of the statue were manufactured in the San Blas district and then transferred and erected on the spiritual location of Pukamoqo Hill, which supposedly holds soil from all of the four quarters of the Inca Empire.
After our visit to Sacsayhuamán, we took a short walk from the rear of the site uphill to the statue. Towering above us about 25 feet, the statue starkly contrasted against the clear, blue sky. Though the fencing surrounding it kept us from getting too close, we were able to get some decent photographs and our visit lasted a short ten minutes. Since not much time is required at the site, you can incorporate your visit with stops at Sacsayhuamán, Q’enqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomacay, all located on the same highway.
And Cristo Blanco never sleeps. Make sure to cast your eyes upward at night when he is brightly lit! A constant reminder of the hospitality and friendliness of the Cusqueñan people.
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Cristo Blanco
- Hours: Open daily, 24 hours
- Admission: free
- Getting There: By taxi, about S/. 15 (about $5.50 US), with journey taking about 15 minutes. By foot, from Plaza de Armas, the journey takes about 30-40 minutes, uphill.