Cuzco

The political and religious capital of Inca Empire, located in the southern highlands of Peru. Although previously occupied, the site was first settled by Inca in Late Intermediate period, c 1200 AD. After 1438, Pachacuti planned and rebuilt a city metropolis. It was a ceremonial center rather than a population center and stood at the intersection of the four administrative quarters of the empire (called Tawantinguyu). There were great palaces around the Huacapata (Holy Place), the Sunturhuasi, a tower which stood in the square, and the Sun Temple (Coricancha/Curicancha). The city was planned on a grid system and Cyclopean masonry walls of some streets, such as Callejon de Loreto, still exist, as do those of the nearby fortress of Sacsahuaman. A system of stone conduits brought residents water from various river sources.

Still a thriving community, this site of the Inca capital is located in the Urubamba Valley in Peru at an elevation of 3500 metres. A ceremonial centre rather than a population centre, it stood at the intersection of the four administrative quarters of the empire (called Tawantinguyu). Although a pre-Inca ceramic complex has been defined (named Killke, a fusion of Huari and other elements), legend has it that the capital was founded by the first emperor Manco Capac in cl200 ad. The major public works, however, were completed by Pachacuti some time after 1440. The city was planned on a grid system and the cyclopean masonry walls of some streets, such as Callejón de Loreto, still exist, as do those of the nearby fortress of Sacsahua-man. A system of stone conduits set in the centre of the streets assured residents of a good water supply from diverted river sources. Though the Spanish built the Church of Santo Domingo over it in 1534, the lower walls of the massive Temple of the Sun (Curicancha) also still remain. Excavations after the collapse of the church in 1950 due to an earthquake did uncover a small gold statuette, but nothing remains of the fabulous gold-clad buildings and monumental statues of Spanish report.