Cusco (also Cuzco or Qosqo) was the religious and administrative capital of the Inca Empire which flourished in ancient Peru between c. 1400 and 1534 CE.
The Incas controlled territory from Quito to Santiago, making theirs the largest empire ever seen in the Americas and the largest in the world at that time. Cusco, which had a population of up to 150,000 at its peak, was laid out in the form of a puma and was dominated by fine buildings and palaces, the richest of all being the sacred gold-covered and emerald-studded Coricancha complex which included a temple to the Inca sun god Inti.
The Inca Civilization incorporated, and in many cases perfected, many of the cultural techniques of the civilizations that preceded it. There are many examples of original Inca architecture and engineering that have outlasted later Spanish colonial structures. In this regard, the rich Inca heritage can still be observed throughout Cusco and in the extensive stone roads that united the city with the four cardinal points of the Inca Empire.
Cusco, the major cultural and population center of the Incan civilization, stands today as both a reminder of previous cultures and a modern functioning city. Recognized as an historical treasure, the entire city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The living record that is Cusco serves as a reminder of an ancient civilization that displayed remarkable technical achievements in harmony with the natural environment.
Today Cusco shows every visitor the history and the colorful markets adding the amazing gastronomy with luxury hotels, creating unforgettable, time of your life vacations for every different budget.
Cusco, declared the historical capital of Peru, at the navel of the world … Unmissable!
