Sightseeing in Cusco - what to see. Complete travel guide

The most mysterious city in Peru, Cusco, is situated at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters above sea level. The capital of the Inca Empire is often recognized as the archaeological and historical center of South America. Even though Cusco is not an empire capital anymore, it is a popular tourist destination that still enchants its guests and hides many mysteries of the past. There are still many fantastic landmarks in Cusco, and it is easy to spend many days exploring them. Naturally, the number of guests visiting Cusco increases every year. When taking a stroll on the streets of the city, it is easy to notice that locals are often a minority in a crowd of foreign guests.

According to local legends, Manco Cápac, the founder of the Inca civilization in Cusco, established the beautiful city. He came to this region from the Lake Titicaca region. The city’s territory was conventionally divided into four quarters, each of which had its own head. Rulers of each of the quarters had to be their residents and were obliged to build a palace in the quarter that they were responsible for. Their successors were not allowed to live in the already built palaces. They had to build new palaces for themselves. This tradition is still alive in modern times. Sons never live in the houses of their parents. Even if the house is empty and doesn’t have any dwellers anymore, children still need to build a new house for their families.

Spanish conquistadors brought a new lifestyle to Cusco. The Spanish invaded the region in November 1533. Francisco Pizarro is considered the founder of the city. Starting from this period, the life of the Incans and the region in general changed drastically. The quarters started fighting with each other. The infrastructure and architectural landmarks were destroyed and Catholic churches appeared on their sites. Most of these churches were made from the stones left from the destroyed Incan buildings. This period also marked the appearance of a new style trend, Mestizo. It combines elements of Andian and Spanish motifs. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Do you prefer to start sightseeing with the most important shrines? Then Coricancha temple is the first sight that you should visit. The “Golden Temple” was the main shrine in the Incan Empire. When conquistadors invaded the region, they destroyed the temple and used its foundation for the new Santo Domingo Cathedral. According to local legends, all walls and inner décor of the temple had gold coating. However, when the Spanish invaded the region, Incans managed to remove and hide all gold parts. At that time, there was a large gold altar with a giant gold disc in the temple. The disc depicted Inti, the Incan god of the sun.

By the way, gold décor is not the most notable feature of the temple. The way it was built is way more important. The temple is built from multiangular blocks that remained indestructible for centuries. Even when a Spanish cathedral was built on the site of the “gold temple”, the cathedral didn’t stand the test of time and got significant damages several times. The base, however, was in great condition and nothing could destroy it. Not even earthquakes could ruin the old walls of the Incan temple. Nowadays, travelers enjoy visiting this attraction and exploring the ruins of the old temple.

Do you want to visit the main shrine of the Incas? In this case, head to Qenko temple that is an archaeological site in the Sacred Valley. The shape of this theater is reminiscent of an amphitheater carved in a rock. Incans performed their main sacred rituals here. This is not just a sacred place; this is home to four temples on the mountain slope. When exploring the area, take a look at the walls that still have the images of the animals that were sacred for the Indians. These are the puma, condor, and snake.

Inside, the temple is a network of corridors and passages that are very narrow. There was no sunlight in many of these passages for centuries. Visitors can also see the table that was used during the ritual sacrifices. Symbols on the walls tell many interesting facts about the people who lived here in the past.

The festival dedicated to Sun is the main event that takes place in Cusco every year on June 24. The festival is traditionally held in Saqsaywaman. Sun has always been the main god of the local tribes because it gives all living creatures warmth, light, and, most important, life. Besides that, Inti, who was the sun god for local people, was always the patron of the Incan Empire. The Spanish canceled the holiday, but locals started celebrating the festival later, turning it into a theatrical event.

Airplane is the best means of transport to reach Cusco. Airplanes land in the city’s airport. Cusco airport accommodates flights from Lima and Arequipa. Besides that, tourists can reach Cusco by bus – there are regular buses from Lima to Cusco. The ride will last almost one day in this case. The road from Arequipa is shorter – approximately nine hours. Trains to Cusco depart from Machu Picchu and Puno.