These Inca artifacts landed at Alejandro Velasco Astete airport at around 08.20 hours (13.02 GMT) in an airplane of the Peruvian Air force (FAP) along with Peru’s Culture Minister Juan Ossio.

After unloading the relics from the aircraft, a welcome ceremony was carried out with the attendance of Regional Governor Jorge Acurio, Cusco Provincial Mayor Luis Florez and Machu Picchu District Major Oscar Valencia, among other authorities.

Minister Ossio stressed “it is an unforgettable day for me, I’m overwhelmed. I appreciate and love Cusco, because it was here where I identified with the culture”.

In addition, Victor Raul Aguilar, rector of Cusco's San Antonio Abad University (UNSAAC) said that it is a historic moment for people of Cusco.

It is worth mentioning that Peruvians who attend the Machu Picchu artifact exhibition, to be housed at Cusco’s Casa Concha in July, will enter free of charge.

(END) PHS/VVS/JOT/PGS/PSY