Cuzco is one of the oldest continually
inhabited cities in the Western
Hemisphere. Once the capital of the
great Inca empire, it was later colonized
by Spanish explorers. The rich heritage
of these two fused cultures remains in
Cuzco today. Bowler hat wearing locals
lead llamas up the cobblestone streets,
while fine boutiques and hotels cater for
the tourists heading on to the ruins of
Machu Picchu.
GOLDEN TEMPLE
Only the stone foundations remain
today, but Qorikancha (meaning
‘Golden Courtyard’ in the local
language of Quechua) was
once the richest temple in
the entire Inca empire. Built
around the year 1200, the
temple was full of solid-gold
artefacts, including sculptures
of llamas and babies, and life-
sized replicas of corn used in
rituals. Even the building itself
was gilded – the walls were
lined with at least 700 heavy
gold sheets!
STONE SURPRISE
Nobody knows exactly how the beautiful city of Cuzco
was built. Where did all the rocks come from? How
were they transported? How did the builders cut
them so precisely? It’s said that 16th century Spanish
settlers were stunned at the incredible stonework they
discovered here. The carvings are far more intricate and
sturdy than anything seen in Europe at that time.
SACRED PUMA
The centre of Cuzco was carefully
designed in the shape of a puma,
a sacred animal in ancient Inca
culture. The puma’s head was the
fortress of Sacsahuaman, the rivers
Tulumayo and Huatanay outlined
the shape of its body, and the tail
was formed by Pumaq Chupan, the
place where the two rivers come
together. The puma’s heart was
the holy central square, home to
Qorikancha temple.
MACHU PICCHU
Cuzco is the gateway to Machu Picchu, the world-famous ruins of the
ancient Inca. Although it’s only 80km (50mi) away from the city, getting
there can be tricky! Visitors can arrive by helicopter, trundle up hair-
raising hairpin bends in a bus or mini-van, or hike the steep Inca trail.
Many, however, plump for the three-hour train ride. Tourists choose
between traditional engines with luxurious wood-panelled restaurant
cars and modern trains with glass-domed roofs. Machu Picchu is
tucked between two towering peaks of the Andes. The ‘city in the
clouds’ offers a mysterious and marvellous glimpse into an advanced
and lost society. It is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
EARTHQUAKE
Cuzco is often hit by earthquakes,
caused by friction between massive
chunks of the Earth’s crust. While
the shaking ground often topples
modern structures, it is astonishing
that ancient Inca buildings remain
standing. The Incas didn’t use mortar
to secure their walls, but instead cut
individual stones out exactly and
wedged them together. During
an earthquake, it’s said that the
stones in an Inca wall ‘dance’ –
moving together gently before
settling back into place when the
shaking stops.