Cusco

Cusco, also called Cuzco, is a city in southeastern Peru. It is close to the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountains. Two rivers, the Huatanay and Urubamba, flow nearby. 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. Spanish explorers came in the 1500s and changed the city. Today, Cusco has many old buildings from the Inca people. In 1983, it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This means it is very important to the world.

Now, Cusco is a popular place for visitors. Every year, many 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, from an ancient language called Aymara. The name means "rock of the owl." There is an old story about a brother who turned into a stone to mark where the city would be built.

When Spanish explorers came, they wrote the name as Cuzco, using sounds from their own language. Over time, the spelling changed a little. Today you might see it written as 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 became the city's official flag. The flag also includes a golden sun symbol.

Cusco’s Coat of arms was adopted in 1986. It mixes 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, a local language.

History

Main article: History of Cusco

The city of Cusco has a long history that goes back many years. The Killke people lived there long ago, before the Inca came in the 1300s. Scientists have found old temples and roads from this time.

Cusco became the capital of the Inca Empire in the 1300s. The Inca built the city to look like a puma, a special animal. The city had four parts, each linked to a part of the empire. Leaders had to build a house in Cusco and spend time there. After the death of Inca ruler Pachacuti, the empire grew bigger. The city later changed hands before Spanish explorers came in the 1530s. The Spanish took over Cusco and built new structures on top of old Inca walls.

During Spanish rule, Cusco kept growing. Earthquakes sometimes damaged the city, but it stayed important. Later, Cusco helped Peru fight for independence from Spain. Today, Cusco is a popular place for tourists because of its history and beautiful buildings. Even with challenges like earthquakes, Cusco remains an important cultural center in Peru.

Geography

Cusco is in the central Andes Mountains in southern Peru. It is about 3,400 meters (11,200 feet) above sea level. North of the city is the Vilcabamba mountain range. This range has tall mountains, including Salcantay. Salcantay is 6,271 meters (20,574 feet) tall.

Cusco has a subtropical highland climate. The city has dry, comfortable weather with two main seasons. Winter is from April to September. It has lots of sunshine and cool nights. Summer is from October to March. It has warmer days and frequent rain. Frost and hail can happen, but snow is very rare. The last time it snowed was many years ago. Temperatures usually stay between 0.2°C and 20.9°C (32.4°F and 69.6°F).

Government

See also: Provincial Municipality of Cusco

When the Inca ruled, Cusco was their most important city. The Inca Empire was led from here, and many leaders lived in the city. Later, when the Spanish came, they made Lima the main city instead. But Cusco stayed important. It was the first city in the area to have a bishop and it was a key place for trade.

In more recent times, Cusco’s political role became smaller because it was far from big cities and trade routes. Still, it remained the most important city in southern Peru. Over the years, Cusco has supported some leftist political groups. Leaders like Daniel Estrada Pérez helped organize these groups. Traditional parties sometimes won elections in the city, but right-wing groups had less influence.

Demographics

Cusco has grown a lot over time. In the 1840s, about 47,000 people lived there. By 2007, the number had grown to about 348,935. 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. This tourism helps many people in Cusco find jobs and supports the city’s growing industries.

Culture

Cusco is a city with a very rich history and culture. Its center has many old buildings, squares, and streets from long ago, before Europeans arrived, 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, but most people speak Spanish today. Cusco has many museums, such as the Pre-Columbian Art Museum, Machu Picchu Museum, and Inka Museum. The city is famous for its festivals, like the Inti Raymi or Festival of the Sun, held every June.

Cusco’s food is special, with many different dishes and types of potatoes. 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 concerts each year.

Media

In Cusco, media helps share news, teach people, and protect traditions. The city has many ways to get information, like 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. Bigger papers such as El Comercio and La República cover more 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 and an aqueduct called Pukyus. Later, the Inca expanded Sacsayhuamán.

In 1535, a Spanish explorer damaged parts of the city. Today, visitors can see 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 stay strong even during earthquakes. A famous nearby site is Machu Picchu, which people can reach 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. People grow 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. 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. This airport connects Cusco to several places in Peru and a few other countries. Soon, a new airport called Chinchero International Airport will open.

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 cities in many parts of the world. These partnerships help people from different places share ideas and support each other.