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Cusco

Peru · South America
Skyline of Cusco in October 2025

Cusco or Cuzco (; Latin American Spanish: [ˈkusko]; Qusqu or Quechua: Qosqo, both pronounced in Cuzco Quechua as [ˈqosqɔ]) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range, and the Huatanay and Urubamba rivers. It is the capital and largest city of the eponymous Cusco Province and Cusco Department. It has historically been one of the largest cultural, economic and political centers of Peru. The region was inhabited by the Killke culture in the 10th century, with the fortress Sacsayhuamán being constructed in the 11th century. The city was originally founded in the 12th century by Manco Cápac, as the capital of the Kingdom of Cusco and, later, of the Inca Empire. The region was conquered in the 16th century by the Spanish and reestablished on 23 March 1534, with most of the city being constructed over monuments left from the Inca Empire. In 1983, Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO with the title "City of Cusco". It has become a major tourist destination, hosting over 2 million visitors a year and providing passage to numerous Incan ruins, such as Machu Picchu, one of the seven modern wonders of the world. The Constitution of Peru (19

More of Cusco


Temple of the Sacred Family, Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Church of la Compañía de Jesus, Cusco, Peru
Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pachacuti statue and Church of the Society of Jesus in the background
Photo: Chuck Moravec, CC BY 2.0
Beautiful building found in Cusco, Peru.
Photo: karlnorling, CC BY 2.0