Located in the south eastern region of the Andes Mountains, the city of Cusco is the principle tourist attraction of Peru and one of the most important of the Americas. The Incas called it “the house and dwelling of the gods”. Cusco became the capital of one of the largest pre-Columbine empires; the Tawantinsuyo. Its name in Quechua, Qosqo, means the navel of the world, so called because of the vast network of roads leaving here that united practically all of South America from southern Colombia to northern Argentina.

Cusco is a colonial city of mixed races with splendid churches and mansions built on finely worked rock, also has a rich gastronomy composed of dishes based on Andean products such as corn, potatoes and hot peppers combined with pork and lamb introduced by the Spaniards. It is a land of great landscapes, rich history and a fascinating geography that every traveler should visit.

LEGEND AND HISTORY
Although the valley of the river Huatanay where the city of Cusco is built was populated several centuries before the arrival of the Incas, it is only during their domain (1438-1532 A.D.) that the region achieves its maximum apogee as a pre-Hispanic administrative, religious and military center. The City’s origin is lost amongst the myths and legends of the formation of the Inca Empire.

One of the most popular legends diffused from the Chronicles of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, is that of the mythical couple Manco Capac and Mama Oclio that emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca to found the city of Cusco and taught the people how to cultivate the land. The city was divided in to two sectors; one the Hanan or elevated, and the other Hurin or low, corresponding to the geographic position and the hierarchy of its residents. It is also said that the original shape was that of a Puma with the head of a Falcon.

With the arrival of the Spaniards in 1533 most of the pre-Hispanic buildings were destroyed or served as a foundation for new buildings such as churches, convents and baroque renaissance style mansions. From that time, Cusco was converted in to one of the most sublime expressions of mixed cultures in America.

CLIMATE AND ACCESS
The Cusco region has two well defined seasons, the rainy season between November and March with average temperatures of 12°C and a dry season (recommended visiting period), between April and October with cold nights, sunny days and average temperatures of 9°C. Because of the city’s elevation (3,250 m.a.s.l.), the “soroche” or altitude sickness is a contingency to be taken in to account. It is advisable to refrain from efforts for the first day and to eat lightly. Warm clothing is indispensable during the night and solar protectors and hats during the day.

Cusco is easily accessible by air with commercial flights leaving daily from Lima (55 min.), Arequipa (30 min.) or Juliaca in Puno (30 min.). It is also accessible by land (1,050 Km.) from Lima or from Arequipa (450 Km.).

THE MAIN PLAZA (PLAZA DE ARMAS).
During the Inca period it was called Huacaypata or “the Warriors Plaza” and has been the scene for diverse key events in the history of Cusco. It is here that that “Inti Raymi” (the Sun Feast) is celebrated every year; here also, Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco and Tupac Amaru I the leader of Indigenous resistance was executed (1571).

THE CATHEDRAL
Built between 1560 and 1664 with large blocks of red granite taken from the Inca fortress Sacsayhuaman is one of the most impressive buildings of the city. Its renaissance style façade, contrasts with the fatuous baroque and silver lined interior. Additionally, it has one of the most important silversmith works of colonial art, finely carved wooden alters and a beautiful collection of canvases from the Cuscan School. Two small auxiliary Chapels occupy one on either side; one of them is the Church of Triumph which was the original Cusco Cathedral built in 1539 on the site of the palace of the Inca Wiracocha.

THE JESUIT CHURCH
Considered one of the best examples of colonial baroque in America, its construction started by the Jesuits in 1576 is on the site of the Amarucancha or palace of the Inca Huayna Capac. It has a spectacular façade of carved stone and an outstanding major alter intricately carved in cedar and plated with gold and erected over a subterranean chapel. The church also contains an extensive collection of sculptures and paintings by the most renowned artists of the Cuscan School. At its sides are the Lourdes Chapel and the ancient San Ignacio de Loyola oratory.

There are other historic churches containing important works of art, gold, silver and precious stones such as, CONVENT OF THE MERCED CHURCH and KORICANCHA and the CONVENT OF SANTO DOMINGO should also be visited.

THE “SAN BLAS” NEIGHBORHOOD
Also known as the Artisan Neighborhood is one of the most picturesque places of the city. Its narrow and inclined streets zigzag between the old mansions built with Inca stone and peaceful small squares. Its church, built in 1563 is the oldest parish in Cusco and boasts a spectacular pulpit reputed to be the maximum expression of wood carving in the colonial period. Additionally, the neighborhood that has a beautiful view of the city, contains workshops and stores of the most well known Cusco artisans such as, Hilario Mendivil and Edilberto Merida, Santiago Rojas and Maximiliana Palomino.

HATUN RUMIYOC STREET
Probably the best known street in the city, on one of its carved stone walls (presently part of the Archbishop Palace), is the famous twelve angle stone that once formed part of the ancient palace of the Inca Roca. This street charged with magnetism is an excellent access to the San Blas artisan neighborhood.

ATTRACTIONS OUTSIDE THE CITY
There are several attractions outside the city that are easily accessible by road and at short distances such as: SACSAYHUAMANI with Inca military structures of massive stone many weighing as much as 350 tons; TAMPUMACHAY with the Inca baths and gardens; KENKO and PUCA PUCARA  with defensive structures and terraces; the SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS, a beautiful valley with picturesque communities that was the “pantry” of the Incas; PISAC that holds a traditional fair on Sundays; CHINCHERO where traditionally products of the area are interchanged; OLLANTAYTAMBO at 2,800 m.a.s.l. , a typical Inca village; TIPON a beautiful group of agricultural terraces with aqueducts built for irrigation; MORAY famous for its sunken Amphitheatre, fertile soil and system of aqueducts; the INCA ROAD (ideal for hikers) over a distance of 40 KMS., passing through 16 archeological locations; and,

MACHU PICHU
The spectacular Inca Township 3 hours by train from Cusco or 30 minutes by helicopter, by far the most important tourist attraction of the area, discovered in 1911 by the North American explorer Hiram Bingham. This township is considered as one of the most extraordinary landscape architectural landscapes in the world. Encrusted at the peak of a mountain that dominates the deep canyon of the river Urubamba in the tropical forest, it is both a center of cults and an astronomy observatory and was the ranch of the Inca Pachacutec family. It is composed of two main areas; one is agricultural with platforms and areas for food storage, and the other urban in which the sacred zone with beautifully worked temples, plazas and Royal Mausoleums stand out. The area includes stairways carved out in the rock and carved water channels along the length of this unique archeological site. Facing the township is the Huayna Picchu Mountain that is accessible by a steep stone pathway.

The historic MACHU PICCHU SANCTUARY established in 1981 with an area of 35,592 hectares is much more than an archeological site in the abrupt cloudy forest. Its strategic location at the eastern edge of the Andes permits control of one of the highest routes in the country that protects diverse ecosystems such as, the eternal snows at more than 6,000 meters altitude, and the torrid tropical forests at 1,700 meters altitude. This sanctuary is the home for some of the most spectacular species of wild life such as the Rock Cock – the National Bird of Peru - , the Andean Bear (Ocumari), the midget Deer and several others as well as more than 300 species of birds and more than 200 species of orchids.