Huancavelica

Huancavelica, founded as Villa Rica de Oropesa on August 4, 1571, is a Peruvian city, capital of the district, province and department of the same name. It is located on the eastern slope of the Andes mountain range on the banks of the Ichu River, a tributary of the Mantaro.

In pre-Inca times, Huancavelica was known as the region of the angaraes and chancas. The etymology of the word Huancavelica has various versions, but the most cited comes from the Quechua voice wanka willka, supposedly 'sacred stone', although this interpretation does not agree with Quechua grammar. Founded on August 4, 1572 by instructions of the Viceroy of Peru Mr. Francisco Álvarez de Toledo under the name Villa Rica de Oropesa, a name that referred to the town of Oropesa where the viceroy was born and also to the economic boom sustained by mining at that time. Although minerals are still extracted from the surroundings of this city, Huancavelica is located in the center of one of the areas with the highest poverty rate in the country. It has an estimated population of 47,866 inhabitants for the year 2015.

This city is characterized by the culture left by the Incas and Spaniards on their journey through this place. Thus, for example, religious and traditional costumbrista festivals are celebrated. It also stands out in gastronomy with native dishes such as mondongo and pachamanca.

Etymology

One of the versions refers to "Huanca" - stone and "Huillca" - Sacred.

Although there are different versions about the true origin of the word Huancavelica, the most accepted are:

• The first disappointment refers to a boss "Huanca" called Fray Martin de Morúa, who fought a great battle next to a hill called "Vilca".
• Mario Felipe Paz Soldán states that the word comes from Huanca and Vilca, which means worship of the sun built with big stones.
• The Spanish-Peruvian writer and historian Garcilaso de la Vega notes that the province Huanca added Uillca (large).
• The version is also collected "Huanca", stone, and "Huillca"sacred.
• Another one that comes from the famous chanca cage "Wanko Huillca".
• But the most widespread is the one that relates the name of a "huanca" woman named Isabel to whom everyone knew for "Belica". When referring to her they always told her “Huanca Belica”.

Shield

The coat of arms was the precious jewel of the Crown that was converted into a city under the name of "La Villa de Oropesa". The kings of Spain gave it the privilege of arms and He endowed him with a shield. The message written in Latin: ME FERIAM TOTUM SIC HUANCAVELICA TUETUR means I will sacrifice myself completely so that Huancavelica is safe, and inside the shield there is a hill whose top is he sees a globe with a cross on it.

History

Ancient Peru: First settlers

The region where Huancavelica is located today was once inhabited by humans about 12,000 years ago. C., in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene epochs. Until today, no human remains have been found in this area, but their passage through here is credible. As an example of this, Matos Mendieta tells that in the caves of Pacococha and Orcococha —located in the heights of the province of Castrovirreyna— there is evidence of the hunting of the now extinct American horse and other species, about 12,000 years ago. Like the de Mendieta, different archaeologists such as Arturo Ruiz Estrada, Rogger Ravines, Fredy Ferrúa also have findings on the presence of human groups in this area.

In the neolithic period the former inhabitants of this area began to domesticate some of the cells, such as the alpaca, the flame and the vicuña.

Then they went from being hunters, as the example of Mendieta tells, to horticultural gatherers, as shown in his book "Cronología de Huancavelica", this happened between the years 6,000 and 5,000 BC. Proof of this, in the Vilca district, Chaud Gutiérrez points out in 1975, scrapers, projectile points, knives, microliths, as well as a large number of animal bones were found in the Waraque Machay complex. This would become one of the last periods of pre-agricultural development of the Central Andes. Fredy Ferrúa reveals that between the years 5,000 and 3,000 B.C. The Neolithic period begins, characterized by the beginning of agriculture and the domestication of animals. In ancient Huancavelica these events occurred in the highlands of the homonymous province and in holes that they themselves excavated and built around them to cover them. with leaves and straws. Hand in hand with this growth begin the first signs of the Pachamanca, like cooking meat in an underground oven. Between the years 1200 and 100 a. C., the Early Horizon or Chavín period begins, an event that occurred in much of Peru, including Huancavelica. 15 km from the city is the "Atalalla" site, which was the largest agro-pottery area at that time. Later it would pass to the time of Regional Developments as Chaud points out. Nazca is also recognized on the south coast or to the Moche on the north coast, in Huancavelica were the Cajas - a name named by Mendieta -, who expanded in the central highlands. According to Mendieta, this Caja period developed as the initial influence of Chavín and the end of Paracas. Already between the years 600 and 1,000 AD. C. intervenes the presence of Wari, also known as the "First Andean Empire". This empire covers the entire Huancavelica region and a large part of Peruvian territory. During the Inca era, Huancavelica was the subject of disputes with the Chancas. According to Garcilaso de la Vega, it was divided into three parts which they called Jauja, Marcavilca and Llacsapallanca; the latter would be called Huancavelica during the arrival of the Spanish.

Viceroyalty: Santa Bárbara mines

Plaza Mayor de Huancavelica.

At the beginning of the Viceroyalty of Peru, the mercury deposits of Huancavelica were discovered by Enrique Garcés in 1559. However, the cinnabar deposits (from which mercury is extracted) had been exploited long before the conquest Spanish to be used as a pigment —according to studies carried out, they were exploited from the XIV century a. C. (corresponding to the Early Horizon) to the 15th century d. C.. (around 1460 during the Late Horizon); by which it means that, according to the stories, the Spanish learned of the site of Mount Chacllacatana through local settlers.

Don Amador Cabrera, encomendero of Acoria and Huando, was warned about the mercury deposits in Huancavelica around 1563. Various versions agree that it was the native settlers who gave him the news, although some accounts identify Gonzalo de Ñahuincopa, curaca of Acoria, as the person who exposed the presence of the mines in the region. Once this was verified, Cabrera registered the mine under the name La Descubridora on January 1, 1564 before Don López de Barrientos, ordinary mayor of the city of Huamanga, in whose jurisdiction the mine was located. Subsequently, the corregidor Diego Pachecho, Mayor of Minas, granted the property rights to Cabrera, obtaining the latter the permits for the exploitation of the mineral for the amalgamation of gold and silver. Due to the great importance of this mining region, Viceroy Francisco de Toledo in 1573 expropriated the mines from Cabrera and other Spanish miners who had also filed complaints in the deposit in favor of the crown, founding the Estanco del Azogue. Later, the mine La Descubridora was named Todos los Santos and finally in the 19th century XVIII renamed the Santa Bárbara mine.

Santa Barbara was the only major mercury mine in the entire American continent until the advent of the California mines in the mid-19th century , with mercury being the only indispensable input for refining gold and silver, which were the main elements of the economy of the Spanish-American colonies between the 16th and 17th centuries. In this way, it met the demand of the silver mines of Potosí and Oruro (Upper Peru, present-day Bolivia), San Luis de Potosí (Mexico), Cerro de Pasco (known then as Cerro Mineral de Yauricocha), etc., and it even brought mercury to New Spain when Almadén—a Spanish town with cinnabar mines—was unable to do so. transform:lowercase">XVIII when there were landslides at said site, stoppages of work due to the difficult production conditions and constant claims for the demands in compliance with some clauses of the contract agreed by the contractors of this city.

Foundation

Francisco Álvarez de Toledo, Virrey del Perú ordered the foundation of the Villa Rica de Oropesa, current city of Huancavelica.

View of the Plaza Mayor and the cinema-teatro of Huancavelica.

After the discovery of the Santa Bárbara mines, on the Wanka Willca hill, the town of the Secclla valley grew rapidly, enough for Viceroy Francisco Álvarez de Toledo to entrust Francisco de Angulo with founding the Villa Rica de Oropesa.

The founding of Huancavelica was late compared to other cities already founded by the Spanish, because they were interested in the discoveries of the quicksilver mines. In the area, Spaniards already lived before the foundation, who worked in the mines, in the plain of Seccha on whose banks the Siquisichca river flows, there were rustic constructions in the form of sheds, where the miners went to rest after their work. The viceroy was attracted by the discovered mines and ordered the official foundation on August 4, 1571.

After ten years, the corregidor of Huamanga, who also governed the city of Huancavelica, found himself limited to governing these two jurisdictions and in view of the numerous requests and petitions of the inhabitants for a single governor, as Guillermo Lohmann recounts,

On March 30, 1581 the viceroy issued a forecast in which he granted Huancavelica the title of Villa, so that he could enjoy free jurisdiction, mere and mixed empire, in a term of six leagues to the round, with free availability to choose municipal authorities.

Guillermo Lohmann, "The mines of Huancavelica in the 16th and 17th centuries"

This is because Huancavelica made merit of its importance with a church under construction very advanced, a hospital supported largely by mining and in the urban area there were already around 170 homes.

Republic

During the period of the independence struggle, Sergeant Major Marino Castaño was the leader who moved the Huancavelicanos during emancipation, from 1814 to 1824, supporting Mateo Pumacahua, an indigenous leader who repeatedly revolted against its Spanish Peruvian neighbors. It was recognized as a city on June 21, 1825.

Huancayo-Huancavelica railway car.

Arrival of the Republican era, one of the most important events of which there are records, is the inauguration of the railway that unites the city of Huancavelica with Huancayo, inaugurated on October 24, 1926. Construction began in 1908 with the intention of the section Huancayo - Izcuchaca and then towards Ayacucho; However, the Minister of Development, Mr. Celestino Manchego Muñoz, managed to divert the intentions of the majority and led the construction of a railway to Huancavelica, with the intention of reaching Pisco.

At the end of the XX century, during the Aprista regime, congressman Dr. Moisés Tambini del Valle presented a project to create a university in Huancavelica, which was later approved by Law No. 25265, the same that was promulgated and published on June 20, 1990, creating the National University of Huancavelica. The position of General Coordinator of This university was started by the collegiate journalist Héctor Segovia Alguiar. On April 28, the first stone of the current university city is placed in its current location Paturpampa. On April 4, 1992, with 860 young people, academic activities began both in Huancavelica and in the decentralized sub-sites of Acobamba, Angaraes and Tayacaja. After several years of operation, the university protested against its institutionality, with massive marches, in this way the National Assembly of Rectors granted university autonomy to this higher education institution in the year 2000. Currently the university enjoys full academic, regulatory, governmental, administrative and economic autonomy.

Districts

The city of Huancavelica is divided into 2 districts and has a population of 61,623 inhabitants in 2020, according to the INEI.

Geography

Location

The city of Huancavelica is located in the central part of the department of the same name, to which it belongs. The district capital is located at 12° 47’ 06” south latitude, 74° 58’ 17” west longitude and 3,676 m s. no. m..

Northwest: Ascension District	North: Ascension district, Palca district and Acoria district	Northeast: Acoria district and Yauli district
West: Chupamarca district, Aurahuá district and Castrovirreyna province		This: Yauli district, Angaraes province
Southwest Castrovirreyna district and Castrovirreyna province	South: Castrovirreyna district, Santa Ana district and Castrovirreyna province	Sureste: Ccochaccasa district

It is in a valley surrounded by rocky mountains and is crossed by the Ichu river. It is part of the western Andean chain, known as the "Cordillera de Chonta", formed by a series of hills within the Citaq (5328m), Huamanrazo (5298m) and Altar (5268m) stand out.

Climate

Huancavelica weather table.

Regarding the climate, bearable cold predominates, with a wide oscillation between day and night, between sun and shade. Generally, the wet season includes the months of November to April and the best season to visit Huancavelica is the dry season that runs from May to October. As for its average hourly temperature, it is from 9 to 11 °C with variations throughout the year, with the maximum temperature being 20 °C and the minimum temperature being 6 °C.

The relief of the Huancavelican territory exerts a marked influence on the dynamics of the climate, modifying it in different ways. At higher altitudes, the climate becomes colder, very dry, with strong temperature variations between day and night, frequency of frosts, and the presence of ice, snow, and hail.

Variations in terms of rainfall occur not only in the year, but also between years, since there can be years with dry, intermediate and rainy conditions.

Average Huancavelica climate parameters
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Average temperature (°C)	16	16	16	16	16	16	16.5	17	17	17	17	17	16
Average temperature (°C)	9.8	9.7	9.7	9.5	8.6	7.5	7.3	8.2	9	9.6	9.9	9.7	9
Temp. medium (°C)	3.8	3.8	3.6	2.6	0.7	-1.3	-1.8	-0.8	0.9	1.9	2.1	2.7	1.5
Total precipitation (mm)	140.1	145	156.3	58	22.2	6	9	14	47	58	67	107	829.6
Source No. 1: SENAMHI
Source No. 2: climate-data.org

Heritage

The city of Huancavelica and its surroundings have various historical tourist attractions, churches, archaeological complexes, forests, etc. Among its most outstanding tourist attractions we find around 8 churches with construction styles belonging to the Huancavelican economic boom, with the discovery of its mines. Also to the Raimondi puyas, whose flowering occurs only once every hundred years.

Huancavelica Gun Square at night.

Architectural

Main Square

This plaza was the basis for the creation of the city of Huancavelica. It is of colonial architectural style, and in the center there is a font built in 1862, entirely of granite stone. In its perimeter is the cathedral and a two-story town hall. You can also see the chapel of the Virgen de los Dolores and, in the central part, a stone pool.

Churches

Huancavelica has around 8 churches, a brief description of these below:

Interior of Huancavelica Cathedral.

Huancavelica Cathedral.

• Cathedral of San Antonio de Huancavelica.- It is located in the Plaza de Armas, the fronton of this church belongs to the Baroque style, which was built with red stone brought from the town of Puka Rumi. It has a hurricane wall of the centuryXVII In addition to an altar carved in wood and covered in gold bread, you can also see silver foils and canvases of the Cusqueña and Huamanguina school.

• Church of San Sebastian.- It was built in 1662 and is located in the same square where the church of San Francisco is located. Its cover belongs to the classic Renaissance style with carved altars. At the lower altar is located the Lord of the Prendimiento, the main image that summons thousands of faithful in Holy Week.

• Church of San Francisco.- Located in Bolognesi Square, it was built in 1777, keeping almost intact despite the seismic movements it has endured. The convent of San Francisco de Huancavelica relates to popular legends and memories of war:

-In the "Peruvian Traditions" by Ricardo Palma, he is linked to the legend of the "Father without a head" According to which, a Franciscan father who hanged himself in one of the convent's cells, goes out for a walk at night and rings the church bells.

-It is also said that, during the War of the Pacific, in the XIX century, the convent ended up becoming the army headquarters commanded by Andrés Avelino Cáceres and the Peruvian resistance. A story tells that Cáceres sold the musical instruments of the temple, with the intention of raising funds to support the Peruvian troops during their stay. Currently, on the front platform of the church, the Scissors Dancers contest is held on December 24 and 25. Likewise, on January 6 of each year the Adoration of the Magi is staged.

Daniel Hernández, some of the Tayacajino paintings are presented in "The Exhibition Hall of Archaeology and Anthropology Julio Ruíz Pimentel".

• Church of Santo Domingo.- It is located in a small runway located a few steps from the Plaza de Armas. Built in the centuryXVII. In the interior it highlights the collection of canvases attributed to indigenous painters, Cusqueña and Huamanguina schools.

Archaeological

Archaeological complexes and museums

The archaeological complex of Uchkus Inkañan stands out, located in the community of Uchkus Alto in the district of Yauli. The architecture of this complex suggests that it was a ceremonial center and astronomical observatory; even in one of its sectors it had terraces (andenes) used for agricultural cultivation.
The Julio Ruíz Pimentel Archeology and Anthropology Exhibition Hall is located in Plaza San Juan de Dios. This museum has a varied collection of fossils from the Tertiary and Quaternary eras, mollusk remains, and various petrified marine species. You can also see remains from the pre-Inca era, as well as relics from the colony and independence, as well as works by Peruvian painters such as Daniel Hernández, Fernando de Szyszlo, Hilmer Cajahuaringa among others.

Natural

Thermal Baths of San Cristóbal

Located in the neighborhood of the same name, it consists of a pool and private rooms that are supplied with hot springs from the surrounding hill. They are said to have medicinal properties. The place also has a small restaurant.

Raimondi puya forests

The forest of Puyas de Raimondi (Puya raimondii) of this part of the region, is located in the community of Callqui called Ccallanapucro, 14 km from the center of Huancavelica, where there are more than 1500 seedlings of this species. The Raimondi Puya is one of the rarest plants on the planet. Its half-life is 40 to 50 years, even reaching 100 years. Flowering occurs only once, at that stage they exceed 10 meters in height.

Culture

Folkloric festivities

Scissors dancers at a regional dance.

Most of the festivities in this city are related to religion and tradition. As for religious festivals, we have the Callaocarpino and Jacobo Illanes Children's Festival that takes place every January 1st. This celebration lasts for four days and includes various songs and dances with the best group of danzantes de negritos. Another festival is the Lost Child Festival that takes place every January 14th. The main theme of this party is to remember the search for the child Jesus by his parents in the temple, when he was arguing with the doctors of the Law, according to the Bible (Reina-Valera Bible Luke 2: 41-51). This celebration spans four days and includes various songs and dances such as the "danzantes de negritos" competition. Between March and April, Holy Week is celebrated, which begins on a Sunday with a liturgical act, called Palm Sunday, and then continues with nocturnal processions. In May, in each neighborhood of the city, the Fiesta de las Cruces is held, a festivity held under the symbol of the cross that originates from Pentecost Easter. The ceremonies begin with the so-called lowering of the crosses, beginning the ceremony that includes the bullfight; Waqrapucos; Jarawis and ends with the song of the Pututus, lasting a total of an average of one week. In the homonymous district of this city, every September 29 begins the Tourist Week of Huancavelica. This week is reserved for recreational, social and cultural activities that include folk dances and tasting of typical dishes of the region. As for the traditional, we find the famous dance of the scissors or galas (atipanacuy) that is performed every December 24.

Tourist calendar

Various festive activities are also held, of which the following stand out:

Gastronomy

The Huancavelican natives are considered the creators of two stews that, by tradition, are the ones eaten before and during their festivities and that have now become famous in Peru, these are: tripe and pachamanca, but also They have a variety of typical dishes, combinations of two culinary roots: the Peruvian Andean and the Spanish. The "mondongo" It is prepared on the eve of most festivities, it is prepared with white corn or mote, beef, mutton, bacon, dried meat or jerky, legs, head and mutton belly.

The pachamanca huancavelicana has products such as ram, goat, rubber, cuyes and res as well as choclos, potatoes, habas, quesillos, cheese and humitas.

The "pachamanca" It is prepared for special occasions such as baptisms, marriages and customary parties. This is prepared underground, it has ram, kid, pig, guinea pigs and beef as well as corn, potatoes, broad beans, quesillos, cheese and humitas and it is cooked with the heat of the stones that were previously heated and covered with marmaquilla leaves..

They also highlight:

• The puchero prepared between January and March with fresh vegetables, alpaca meats, rams, fresh minstrels such as garbanzo, beans and fruits.

• Chuño pasi with kuchi kanka prepared with dehydrated potato (chuño), stirred with egg and cheese, accompanied with roasted pigeon.

• Trucha, river fish prepared in various forms.

• Carnero al palo prepared with quite aderezo crossed in a stick, and then cook it to the coal pan, this dish is accompanied with potatoes, beans and vegetables.

• The papachi is a typical dish prepared with various meats and peeled wheat, cooked all night.

• The tiqi is a typical dish of the warm areas of Huancavelica, prepared with abundant cheese, spiced sausage potatoes, milk, mixed with aromatic herbs of the area and aji. But they also have other rich potages prepared with alpaca meat considered in the world as one of the meats with less fat and cholesterol.

• Old clothing is a beef stew with minstrels, potatoes, rice and cabbage.

• The typical dessert is the Ayrampo mazamorra.

Economy and social aspects

The central part of Huancavelica is where most of its financial activities are carried out.

In the economy of the region, the primary sector predominates with great prominence (agriculture, livestock, hunting and forestry), giving work to 64.6% of the economically active population. Cereals such as starchy corn and barley are cultivated, but also potato or alfalfa: mostly products that need low irrigation intensity. 64% of the lands are natural pastures, 16% arable lands and 20% mountains and others. In infrastructure it has an important cattle herd, as well as dairy, leather and skins, flour and brandy industries. Its name is linked to the cinnabar mines, whose high grade mercury was extracted at the same time that Potosi silver was exploited in colonial times. Mercury or quicksilver was the main input for refining silver with the amalgamation technique and thanks to this the success of the viceroyalty's silver industry was given.

On the other hand, in the social aspect, Huancavelica as a department is the poorest in the country, with a poverty rate of 84.4% and extreme poverty at 59.9%. Likewise, it represents the highest rate of malnutrition in children under 5 years of age in rural areas of the country: 53.2%. 14% of the population lacks water service, 39% lacks drainage and 8% does not have electricity. Illiteracy in women reaches 14%, being surpassed by that of children from 0 to 12 years with 28%. According to the United Nations program (UNDP), the Human Development Index is 0.5474, making it a city with medium human development.

Education

Percentage chart of students in public and private C. E.

Huancavelica has 20 private educational centers and 81 public ones, of which 42 are for initial education, 31 for primary education, 14 for secondary education and other higher education centers.

• Instituto de Educación Superior Pedagógica Private Santa Rosa.
• Instituto Superior Tecnológico Público de Huancavelica.
• Instituto Superior Pedagógico Público de Huancavelica.
• Instituto Superior Privado Telesup.
• Escuela Técnico Superior P.N.P Huancavelica

During 2006, the number of students in private institutions was approximately 1,670, while in public schools the number was greater than 13,260 students, which would represent 88.8% of the total student body studying in this city.

Huancavelica is the main headquarters of the National University of Huancavelica located in Paturpampa. It has a Computer and Systems Center, Printing Center, Language Center, Laboratory and a Central Library.

Health

Hospital I Huancavelica.

Sports

Undoubtedly the sport most practiced by the inhabitants of the city is soccer, like the rest of the country, the most traditional and popular clubs of the Huancavelican fans are UDA, Diablos Rojos and Racing FBC.

The main sports venue for the practice of Soccer is the IPD Stadium in Huancavelica, at 3,676 meters above sea level it is one of the highest in the world, and has a capacity for 2,500 spectators.

Transportation and communications

Access routes

Access from the cities of Huancayo, Lima and Ayacucho to the city of Pampas is by land.

Access roads

Departure from the male train.

Male train.

Tourism

Among its tourist attractions are the Tren Macho itself and the Plaza de Armas, with court and colonial elegance. In its perimeter is the town hall, with two floors and eleven portals, which in the past served as the local town hall. You can see the chapel of the Virgen de los Dolores and, in the central part, an octagonal stone pool, with two fountains that represent faces of Indian women, from whose mouths the water recirculates, Iglesia Catedral de San Antonio: Built in the 17th century, the façade impresses with the contrast between its white prismatic towers and the Baroque-style façade, carved in volcanic stone from Indian red color. Inside, the baroque decoration of the main altar predominates and the pulpit and side altars in gold leaf stand out, as well as beautiful canvases from the Cusco and Huamanguina schools, described by the traveler D. López Mazzotti in his books as well as, Los baños hot springs in the city of Huancavelica: Seccsachaca Villa Cariño and San Cristóbal, the large number of viceregal churches in the city, among which the temple and convent of San Francisco, the temple of Santo Domingo and the temple of San Juan de Dios stand out, the Santa Bárbara mine, the adjacent ghost town, the picturesque town of Sacsamarca and the road that connects it to the mine and the city, the historic Izcuchaca bridge and the stone forest of Sachapite