Cusco Information

History

The fame achieved by archeological Cuzco can be found beyond the Inca Age since the Cuzco Culture began about 1000 years before Christ when the Marcavalle Culture was in force. From there, Chamepata was originated, the history of this contemporary culture of Pucara in Puno is lost at the beginning of our Age until Wari conquered the zone including it in the Wari's Empire. After Wari, the region re-established its potential and started growing, first together with the Killke Culture and then with the Inca Culture. The city of Pikillacta comes from Wari Culture and from times of Killke, Sacsayhuaman itself and the foundations of Cuzco city.

In the past, Cuzco represented the center of the Inca Civilization. It was the capital of the andean state of Tahuantinsuyo; and which, according to the Legend, was founded by Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo between XI and XII Centuries. Then, due to an order of Francisco Pizarro, this city was founded again in March 23, 1534 in a Spanish fashion.

Geography

It is one of the most extensive departments in Peru. Cuzco has a very differentiated landscape where elevated alignments of mountains with vast altiplanos and plateaus with slight surfaces and deep valleys and canyons are mixed.