Ñaupahuasi

Ñaupahuasi stands on a hill above Yauyos in the western Andes of Peru. Its stone buildings command the valleys of the Cañete River and a neighboring ravine. A paved semicircular plaza, circular defensive structures, houses and storehouses show a settlement with several distinct functions. Some architectural details, including trapezoidal niches, reflect Inca influence. An early colonial church was built among the older remains, marking a change in the sacred and political life of the highland community.