Larry Memmott's Blog

If you are going to Tiwanaku, you should certainly visit the town and its church.  It is certainly worth noting that most of the stone used to build the town, and all of that used in the church, was taken from the Tiwanaku ruins.  For modern sensibilities, that would be a crime, but I suppose that back when it happened, it seemed only sensible.

The Tiwanaku church is covered in Ambassador Phillip Schauer’s excellent book, “Tour guide of Iglesias Rurales,” which you should certainly buy if you don’t have it yet.

The Tiwanaku church, dedicated to St. Peter, was completed in 1612.  It is all of stone, and two major statues from the Tiwanaku site adorn the front of the church.  Unfortunately, the “cages” placed around the statues, undoubtedly to protect them, make it difficult to really appreciate them.  Take a good look at the workmanship of the church.  The water spouts, for example, are puma heads carved in a style similar to that of Tiwanaku.  you can’t possibly miss the stained glass figure on the front of the building.

For full directions to this and other sites in the area, see Tiwanaku, Colonial Churches and Natural Arches.