| Bolivia 2007
Photos by Don and Lois Porter 2/2/2007 |
Kantu Nucchu
We were fortunate to be invited to visit this historic hacienda, situated about 12 miles from Sucre, on the banks of the Cachimayo River. Patricio Marion is Rodrigo Marion’s uncle; we met Rodrigo on the bike path in Niskayuna, very near our home, last summer. Both Rodrigo and Patricio were very helpful to us as we planned our trip to Bolivia. And now Patricio was our gracious host for a lovely Sunday spent at Kantu Nucchu.
There are three houses on the property. The first dates from around 1600, the second from around 1700, and the main large house was built in 1865 when Don Gregorio Pacheco bought the property. Don Gregorio was President of Bolivia from 1884 to 1888. He was Patricio’s great-grandfather. The Pacheco – Marion – Argandoña family has owned the hacienda for four generations; longer than any other owner since the property was constituted in the 16th century. The 1865 house is full of period furnishings and decorations. On the walls are historic portraits, including one of Manuela, the mistress of Marshal Antonio Jose de Sucre. Manuela was also the mother-in-law of Don Gregorio Pacheco. The second house served as a refuge for Marshal Antonio José Sucre after he was wounded in an attempt on his life in the city of Sucre April 18, 1828. He spent several months living and recuperating at Kantu Nucchu; it was there that he wrote his celebrated final message to the nation.
The first grain mill in Bolivia (1744) is housed in another structure attached to the hacienda. Huge millstones, still in functioning order, were imported from France. Located on the old road between Sucre and the mines of Potosi, the mill played a crucial role in supplying Potosi’s grain; the house and surrounding structures were an important rest stop. Don Gregorio Pacheco patented the strain of corn he developed to be ground at the mill.
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