Archives for posts with tag: Inca

Mario Testino visits Palacio Nazarenas

July 24, 12 //
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By Stephan Post, Launch General Manager, Palacio Nazarenas

It’s now a month since opening and it’s been a real pleasure having our first guests to stay. Among them was Mario Testino who was travelling with a team on a photography shoot. Mario was born and grew up in Lima, and it was great to be able to show him a new side to his home country. He is currently shooting portraits of Peruvian people wearing festive costumes, and couldn’t have picked a better time to visit—during the Inti Raymi celebrations here in Cuzco.

His visit to Cuzco followed the launch of his Asociacion Mario Testino (MATE), based in a beautiful old house in Lima, which supports Peruvian artists and culture. www.mariotestino.com/philanthropy

Travelling with him was Hamish Bowles, International Editor at Large for Vogue, who has blogged about his visit at www.vogue.com

Photographer Mario Testino with General Manager Stephan Post

Photographer Mario Testino with General Manager Stephan Post at Palacio Nazarenas.

An Architect’s View

June 13, 11 //
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By Enrique Palacio, Principal Architect

There are two dates in my working life that I will never forget. One is July 20th, 2000, when we first met the authorities to begin the Nazarenas project and the other is April 14th, 2011, when I felt we had solved all the technical issues and realised a design that can now go full steam ahead. What has happened in between? Without a doubt this has been the most complex work I have ever undertaken – I’m a lucky man! – but it has also been an exceptional experience to work in such detail on a structure that is so important and historic.

Stone carving of twin creatures with a shield above the main entrance of Palacio Nazarenas.

We’ve gone down to the most basic structural elements. We even removed and restored the foundations, working with tools like spoons so as not to disturb a thing. And we’ve made so many finds that it seems like every minute we’ve hit a stone and it’s been “Stop the work. Bring a brush!” It is hugely important to preserve the archaeology of the site. And everywhere you dig you find something.

Fascinating finds include pre-Inca and Inca walls, some of which will become part of guest rooms, or made visible under glass. There are centuries-old wall paintings, superb arches of bricks and magnificent wooden doors. I’ll tell you more about these, and how they will form striking features within our contemporary design plan, as we work on them over the weeks to come.