Special guest for our April issue Mario Testino takes Vogue Paris back to his homeland, for a personal tour of Peru. He reveals his favourite places and shares his childhood memories in the magazine, which hits newsstands March 22.
"Peru gives you vertigo. Between the heights of Huascarán and the beaches of Lima, there is a difference of 7,000 m. For this issue, we made the jump with Mario Testino," wrote Emmanuelle Alt, editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris in her editorial for the April 2013 issue. The photographer introduced us to the enchanting contrasts of his homeland through a vibrant fashion triptyque, featuring three stories and three magnificent panoramas, with three fabulous girls: the historic mountains of Cuzco with Isabeli Fontana - our April cover girl - and Aymeline Valade, the breathtaking Peruvian coast with Kate Moss and the awe-inspiring Nazca desert with Erin Wasson and it's ancient geoglyphs. It was a chance for Mario Testino to share his memories and show off the contemporary Peru for which he works tirelessly through his MATE organization. From top tables to the must-go shops, bars and cafés you need to know about, the photographer shares his personal favourites as we meet artists like Nobel prize for literature winner Mario Vargas Llosa and learn about the artisan expertise that goes into locally woven embellished fabrics, beribboned hats and fine embroidery. As the country looks set to become the new Eldorado of South America, its greatest ambassador shows us Peru, in all its blazing glory.
