CUZCO, PERU – THE CAPITAL CITY OF THE INCA EMPIRE

When it comes to rich legacies left behind by pre-Hispanic cultures, Peru lands at the top of the list.  At the hub of Peru is a city called Cuzco, which is the ancient capital of the Inca Empire.  Cuzco, Peru is known as the archaeological capital of all South America, which is a complex culture that comes from the Inca and Spanish.  In Cuzco, you can see this amazing blend by the Spanish colonial architecture and the famous Inca ruins. 

Starting in the 14^th century, Cuzco was the capital of the Incan Empire.  However, in 1533, Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish leader came and conquered Peru, following a very difficult voyage that took him and his entourage through Panama and then over the Andes mountains.  Once the Spanish arrived, they found massive riches to include gold.  This incredible find pushed Peru into a new era that would make history. 

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Incan capital is the architecture.  There, you will discover massive cut-stone blocks that fit perfectly but without modern day mortar.  One of the buildings is the temple of the sun called Coricancha, along with a fortress known as Sacsahuaman, both built with boulders weighing more than 190 tons.  Now, consider that during this era, the people had no backhoes, no cranes, and no modern equipment to lift such enormous weight; we can only imagine the amazing challenge to complete the structures, and then the celebration once completed. 

Keep in mind that the city of Cuzco was established in the form of a puma, using the fortress as the head and the Tullumayo and Huatanay Rivers as the tail.  In addition, ancient Cuzco was located in the exact place as the modern city square, although twice as large.  Then all around the palaces of the past kings was gravel, which was the site of important ceremonies.  There are four roads going to the four corners, which were eventually paved.  With so much attention to detail and the unbelievable engineering that went into building this city, it was breathtakingly beautiful. 

You will discover that the city of Cuzco is also spelled in a number of ways to include Cusco, Qozqo, and Qosqo.  However, no matter the name or the spelling, this ancient, Incan Empire capital today stands as a blend of modern buildings and amenities with colonial additions.  Interestingly, the spelling “Qosqo” translates to “bellybutton” or “navel” in Quechua, which is a beautiful valley that supported civilization prior to the Incas.  As visitors came to the city, they would hear chants of “Ama Sua, Ama Quella, Amam Lulla, which means, “Don’t lie, don’t steal, and don’t be lazy”. 

When visiting Cuzco, Peru, you will be amazed and impressed at the artistry and techniques used to create this empire.  Most of the structures have outlived earthquakes, living on for future generations to enjoy.  The plaza was the core of the Suvos, or Four Regions of the Inca Empire, which stretches from Quito, Ecuador all the way to northern Chile.  There in the plaza stood ceremonial and official buildings along with residences of the rulers.  From this vantage point, fast runners could take messages from the center of the city out in all directions to form a network of communication. 

All around Cuzco are varied populations to include artisan, agricultural, and industrial.  Sadly, the Spanish destroyed a good number of the structures and what couldn’t be demolished was used to build churches and other buildings, many that still exist today.  Getting to Cuzco, Peru is actually easy.  Once there, you will find the climate to be very comfortable but keep in mind the rainy season is from November to March. 

In addition to the ruins, the streets of the city are quaint, dotted with colonial red roofs, blue doors, and whitewashed walls.  The people are hard working and warm, and very interested in outside visitors.  In the city, there are great places to visit such as the San Blas church, the Cathedral, and the Art School.  Other attractions worth seeing while in Cuzco, Peru include Qorikancha, the Sun Temple, which is best viewed at night when it is fully illuminated and the La Compania Church, a true masterpiece. 

You might also plan a trip to Q’engo, a temple dedicated to Mother Earth, Puca Pukara, a fortress watchtower that has an amazing view, Lago, Lanlakuyoq, and Kusilluchayoq, believe to be sites used for ceremonies or observations, and the incredible Machu Picchu, one of the most magical places on earth.  You can also visit the Sunday market called Chinceros located in the center of town, the Urubamba River Valley, which winds from Pisac to Ollantaytamob, the salt flats called Maras, or you might simply enjoy hiking or rafting down the Vilcamayu River.