Ayacucho

About

Founded by the Spanish in 1540 as San Juan de la Frontera de Huamanga, Simon Bolivar gave Ayacucho (literally “Dead Corner”) its name after seeing the casualties of the last battle of the Peruvian War of Independence. In the 1980s, death again came to the region when the Shining Path, a Communist revolutionary group, used Ayacucho as its base of operations. Today, the city is slowly gaining outside attention again, and its colorful colonial buildings make the streets worth wandering. At the center of town, you’ll find the Main Plaza, with its statue of Simon Bolivar, which is surrounded by buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries, including the impressive cathedral. Ayacucho’s relative isolation has lead to a proud culture with its own distinctive crafts, cuisine, and some of the country’s most unique festivals.