Cusco

Cusco, also called Cuzco, is a city in southeastern Peru, close to the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountains. It sits near two rivers called the Huatanay and Urubamba. Cusco is both the capital and the biggest city in its area.

Long ago, in the 1200s, Cusco became the capital of the Inca Empire. Later, in the 1500s, Spanish explorers arrived and changed the city. Today, Cusco is very special because it has many old buildings from the Inca people. In 1983, it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which means it’s very important to the world.

Now, Cusco is a popular place for people to visit. Every year, over two million tourists come to see amazing sites like Machu Picchu, one of the seven modern wonders of the world. Because of its rich history, the Constitution of Peru calls Cusco the Historical Capital of Peru. The city is high up in the mountains, about 3,400 meters above sea level, and many people live there.

Spelling and etymology

The original name of this city is Qusqu, coming from an ancient language called Aymara. The name means "rock of the owl" and is tied to an old story about a brother who turned into a stone to mark the spot where the city would be built.

When Spanish explorers arrived, they wrote the name as Cuzco, using sounds from their own language. Over time, the spelling changed a bit, and today you might see it written as either Cusco or Cuzco. Both spellings are correct and used in different places.

Symbols

Main article: Flag of Cusco
Main article: Coat of arms of Cusco
Main article: Anthem of Cusco

The city of Cusco has special symbols that show its rich history and culture. The Flag of Cusco has seven colorful stripes—red, orange, yellow, green, sky blue, blue, and violet—representing the rainbow. It was created in 1973 and later became the city's official flag. The flag also includes a golden sun symbol called the Sol de Echenique, which connects to Cusco’s past.

Cusco’s Coat of arms was adopted in 1986 and combines designs from ancient Inca traditions and Spanish heritage. It features a golden sun, showing the city’s link to its Inca roots. The Anthem of Cusco was made in 1944 and is sung at special events. It is performed in both Spanish and Quechua, one of the local languages, to honor the city’s diverse culture.

History

Main article: History of Cusco

The city of Cusco has a rich history that goes back many centuries. The Killke people lived in the area from around 900 to 1200 AD, before the Inca arrived in the 1300s. Archaeologists have found ancient temples and roads from this time, showing that the area was important for both religion and defense.

Cusco became the capital of the Inca Empire in the 1300s. The Inca built the city in the shape of a puma, a sacred animal. The city was divided into four parts, each linked to a province of the empire. Leaders from each province had to build a house in Cusco and spend part of the year there. After the death of Inca ruler Pachacuti, the empire grew even larger. The city later fell under the control of different Inca leaders before Spanish explorers arrived in the 1530s. The Spanish took over Cusco and changed many parts of the city, building new structures over ancient Inca walls.

During the time of Spanish rule, Cusco continued to grow. Earthquakes sometimes damaged the city, but it remained an important place. Later, Cusco played a role in Peru’s fight for independence from Spain. In more recent times, Cusco has become a major tourist destination, famous for its history and beautiful buildings. Even though it faced challenges like earthquakes and pandemics, Cusco remains a key cultural center in Peru.

Geography

Cusco is located in the central Andes Mountains in southern Peru. It sits at an elevation of about 3,400 meters (11,200 feet). North of the city lies the Vilcabamba mountain range, home to tall mountains including Salcantay, which rises to 6,271 meters (20,574 feet).

Cusco experiences a subtropical highland climate. The city has dry, temperate weather with two main seasons. Winter runs from April to September and brings plenty of sunshine along with cool nights. Summer lasts from October to March and features warmer days with frequent rain. While frost and hail can happen, snow is very rare, with the last recorded instances occurring many years ago. Temperatures typically stay between 0.2°C and 20.9°C (32.4°F and 69.6°F).

Government

See also: Provincial Municipality of Cusco

During the time of the Inca, Cusco was the most important political center. The Inca Empire was ruled from here, and leaders and important people lived in the city. Later, when the Spanish arrived, Cusco lost some of its importance because the new leaders chose Lima as the main city. Still, Cusco stayed important, becoming the first city in the area to have a bishop and keeping its role as a key location for trade.

In more recent times, Cusco’s political role grew smaller because it was far from the main cities and trade routes. Even so, it stayed the most important city in southern Peru. Over the years, Cusco has supported leftist political groups. Leaders like Daniel Estrada Pérez helped organize these groups, and later, other parties also found support in the city. Traditional parties sometimes won elections here, but right-wing groups had less influence.

Demographics

Cusco has grown a lot over time. In the 1840s, around 47,000 people lived there. By 2007, the number had grown to about 348,935, and by 2017, it was around 428,450 people, according to INEI.

Economy

Cusco has a strong economy based on farming, especially growing corn and local root vegetables. The city also makes drinks and foods like beer, soda, coffee, and chocolate. But the biggest part of Cusco’s economy is tourism. Many people visit Cusco every year to see its beautiful old buildings and nearby ruins, especially Machu Picchu, which is one of the world’s most famous places.

Tourism has grown a lot since the early 2000s. In 2019, over 2.7 million visitors came to Cusco, making it the most popular place in Peru for tourists. This tourism helps many people in Cusco find jobs and supports the city’s growing industries.

Culture

Cusco is a city rich in history and culture. Its center has many old buildings, squares, and streets from before the time of European contact and from colonial times. In 1972, it was named Cultural Heritage of the Nation, and in 1983, it became a World Heritage Site.

The local language is Quechua, though most people speak Spanish today. Cusco is home to many museums, such as the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, Machu Picchu Museum, and Inka Museum. The city is also known for its festivals, like the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun, held every June.

Cusco’s cuisine is special, with dishes like cuy (guinea pig) and many types of potatoes. Traditional foods mix old Andean ways with new cooking styles. The city loves football (soccer), and its teams have won important tournaments.

Cusco also has a famous music group, the Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, and a symphony orchestra that performs many concerts each year.

Media

In Cusco, media helps share important news, teach people, and protect cultural traditions. The city has many ways to get information, including newspapers, radio, television, and websites. These media talk about local news, culture, tourism, and the rights of indigenous people.

Some newspapers, like Diario del Cusco and Diario El Sol del Cusco (El Sol), focus on the area, while bigger papers such as El Comercio and La República cover wider topics. Radio stations such as Radio Tawantinsuyo and Radio Universal are very popular. People in Cusco also watch local TV and use the internet for news and updates.

Main sites

The ancient Killke culture built the walled complex of Sacsayhuamán around 1100. They also built a major temple, an aqueduct called Pukyus, and roadways linking old structures. Later, the Inca expanded Sacsayhuamán.

In 1535, the Spanish explorer Pizarro damaged much of the Inca city. Today, visitors can still see parts of important buildings like the palace of the Incas, Qurikancha (the Temple of the Sun), and the Temple of the Virgins of the Sun. Some Inca buildings remain stronger than modern ones, even during earthquakes. One of the most famous nearby sites is Machu Picchu, which can be reached by foot along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu or by train. Another notable site is the "fortress" at Ollantaytambo.

The area around Cusco is known for gold mining and farming, growing crops like corn, barley, quinoa, tea, and coffee.

Because of its long history, Cusco’s city center has many old buildings, squares, streets, and churches from colonial times, plus some pre-Columbian structures. In 1983, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. Key sights include the neighborhood of Barrio de San Blas, with its artisans and old houses, and Hatun Rumiyuq street, famous for the Stone of Twelve Angles. The Cathedral of Santo Domingo and the Cusco Cathedral show beautiful colonial architecture and art. The Plaza de Armas has been the center of many important events, and nearby is the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, known for its detailed stonework and gold-covered altar. The ruins of Qurikancha, once a grand temple to the Sun God, now form part of the Convent of Santo Domingo, which holds many artworks from the Cuzco School.

Infrastructure

Cusco has many ways to travel in and out of the city. The main airport is Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport, named after a brave pilot who first flew over the Andes mountains. This airport connects Cusco to several places in Peru and a few other countries. Soon, a new airport called Chinchero International Airport will open, making it easier to travel to North America and Europe.

You can also travel by train. Cusco has train stations that connect it to cities like Juliaca and Arequipa, and special trains go to the famous ancient site of Machu Picchu. The city is also linked by roads to many other towns and cities, including Puerto Maldonado, Arequipa, Juliaca, and Puno.

Cusco has many hospitals and health centers to help people stay well. Both government-run and private clinics and hospitals serve the people of the region.

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Peru

Cusco is twinned with several cities around the world. These partnerships help bring together people from different places to share ideas and support one another.