Tag Archives: Inca Empire

Travel In Peru: A Tour Of Cusco And Machu Picchu

DW Travel (May 3, 2023) – Come with us to Cusco! The former capital of the Inca empire high up in the Peruvian Andes is steeped in history. This can still be seen in its Inca temples and many buildings constructed by Spanish colonialists.

From Cusco the journey continues to the world-famous ruined city of Machu Picchu, just 100 kilometers away. City guide Saul Palma, a Cusco local, shows us Cusco and Machu Picchu, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Peruvian Andes: Cusco To Macho Picchu (4K)

Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was once capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. Plaza de Armas is the central square in the old city, with arcades, carved wooden balconies and Incan wall ruins. The baroque Santo Domingo Convent was built on top of the Incan Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha), and has archaeological remains of Inca stonework. 

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.