Ollantaytambo was once the residence of Emperor Pachacuti and is believed to be the only place in Peru where, in 1536, the Incas managed to drive back the Spanish army. 😯 The Spanish gave it their best shot here, but they simply couldn't pull it off — a rare feat in this part of the world.
The ruins are mainly of religious significance. The temple and fortress sit high above the town, so getting up there means a slow climb — with plenty of breaks and lots of stops "for photos" (I say "for photos," but really I'm just catching my breath 😅).
The best part? The massive monolithic stones used to build everything still bear ancient carved reliefs. You stand there, run your hand over the stone, and can't help but think of someone carving it hundreds of years ago without any of our modern tools. 👌
