Descendants of the Incas: Inca weaving traditions and family ties.

We hope you enjoy Descendants of the Incas. The images and comments you explore will give you a flavor of the rich culture of Inca people living today near the city of Cusco, once the capital of the Inca empire.

Descendants Of The Incas fulfills one of the major goals of the Center For Traditional Textiles of Cusco, Peru: to share information with you and others about the Native American culture of the Andes.

The Center's overall purpose is to help preserve and celebrate Andean textiles and assist their makers in carrying on a tradition practiced for more than 2000 years.

Over the past decade, the center has grown tremendously. Most recently a museum was built in the town which now houses a weath of artistry. Any savvy tourist now includes a visit to this repository of stunning weavings.

The Center is fortunate to have Nilda Callañaupa living in Cusco, Peru serving as Project Coordinator.

Nilda grew up in the high village of Chinchero, an important Inca center where, in the sixteenth century, the Emperor Tupa Inca built his country estate, a palace, temple, ceremonial spaces, terraces and royal storehouses.

Chinchero also served as a Tambo or resting place on the Inca Royal Road. Machu Picchu, the so called "lost city of the Incas," not far from Chinchero, is thought to have served as the next Tambo on the Inca Road.

We welcome any suggestions or feedback from you as you explore our site.