>Inti Raymi, in Quechua Sun Festival, is the most important Inca religious ceremony in honor of the Inti divinity, the Sun god. Since 1944. it takes place in Cusco on 24 June, date that corresponds to the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, the shortest day of the year. The Incas, great connoisseurs of astronomy, practiced this ritual to bring the Sun closer to the Earth.
The Inti Raymi dates back to around 1430, but it was prohibited during the Spanish occupation, because considered not in line with the Catholic religion. The Sun Festival is celebrated in three historical sites of the city : the Temple of the Sun or Coricancha, the Plaza de Armas and the fortress of Sacsayhuaman located a few kilometers from Cusco.
Participating in this ceremony is like reliving the traditions, dances, customs and values of the glorious Inca Empire: a real blast from the past.
