Situated in the heart of what once was the land of the Incas, Cuzco is a city with much historical significance. Though perhaps the single largest reason that people visit Cuzco is to walk the Inca Trail to their famous mountain city of Machu Picchu there are many other diversions both old and new. The Inca were famously star gazers and that tradition is continued, be it in a new fashion, with the city’s planetarium. There are also several nice restaurants and bars to be visited that showcase a modern vibe to a city so filled with great monuments and sites to visit. Still more to do in Cuzco includes:

Planetarium

689 Avenida Pardo | Cuzco

Set in a non-descript building in the hills surrounding Cuzco the Planetarium saves its surprises for inside. The museum is filled with great informative exhibits as well as a fantastic telescope and different charts that detail elements of our galaxy. Many visitors praise the observatory’s quaint appearance and the wealth of information that is houses inside of it. Everyone who visits is assured a personalized experience as they learn more about our galaxy. In order to visit the Planetarium guests must reserve their spots in advance, because of limited space on the shuttles heading to it. Shuttles leave Plaza de Armas at 6 pm and return around 7:45 pm. Tours are offered each day of the planetarium at a cost of $18.50 per person.

Pre-Columbian Art Museum

231 Plaza de las Nazarenas | Cusco, Peru

A welcome addition to all of the varied Inca sites in and around Cuzco is the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, which possesses a world class collection of Peruvian art. The museum is housed in Casa Cabera which is a mansion, dating back to 1580, that has been converted into an art museum. The collection dates from 1250 BC to 1532 AD and features varied works from the Hurai, Nasca Mochica, Chancay, and Inca civilizations. The museum is located at the North East corner of Plaza de Armas and is open from 9 am to 10 pm with admission costing around $7.50 US.

Inca Museum

Cuesta del Almirante | Cusco, Peru

Located in a 16th century colonial mansion the Inca Museum provides loads of information and exhibits that will enrich visitors later experiences visiting Manch Picchu. Specifically there are rooms that showcase Inca Silver figures, music instruments, textiles, pottery, and even ancient Incan mummies. The museum goes into detail discussing how Incan day to day life took place. Outside of the museum in its court yard Andean woman actually weave authentic textiles. The Inca Museum is located close to the Pre-Columbian Art Museum in Plaza De Armas. Visitors can visit the museum between 8 am to 6 pm. Admission cost is around $3.75 US per person.

Rome is a city that really has to be experienced once in your life. The saying was – “See Rome and Die!” Rome is a city that was once the centre of an empire and it shows in terms of the sheer number of monuments and attractions it has. A beautiful city on its own in terms of its architecture, this intrinsic beauty is taken to the next level when paired with buildings and sites that have been around for hundreds of years, and in some cases millennia. When a person comes to Rome they also have a chance to sample firsthand the Roman passion and the unique energy of its citizenry. Yet more to see and do in Rome includes:

Basilica di San Clemente

Via Labicana 95 | Rome

The Basilica di San Clemente is an intriguing building in the sense that it is by all accounts a church built upon a church, built upon a church, built upon a church. The first church built there was a 2nd century pagan temple, which was later built over by a 4thcentury church, which later ended up underneath a 12th century church. Visiting the Basilica gives the opportunity to see remains of all 3 previous structures. The Basilica can be found near to the Colesseo metro station and is open daily, but closed for masses, at lunch time.

Gianicolo Hill

Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi | Rome, Italy

West of the Tiber River is Gianicolo Hill which provides a great locale to look over the city and relax. Your view from the hill top will gaze over all the wealth of beauty Rome has to offer. Some of the best places to look from are near Renaissance villa, the villa Lante as well as the Piazza Garbaldi.

Campo de’ Fiori

Piazza Campo de’ Fiori | Rome

The campo De Fiori has two existences, one during the day as a bustling market place and the other as one of Rome’s most concentrated areas for nightlife. Writers say that the Campo de’ Fiori has retained the same qualities and appearance that it had back since the early 1800’s when it also was a market and a place for people to congregate. Travelers call this one of the best people watching spots in the city and a great place to get fresh veggies by day and revel in Rome’s night life as the sun sets.