Cusco was the capital of the Inca empire from its beginnings in the 14th century until the Spanish conquest in 1533. It's one of Peru's most popular tourist destinations because of the Inca ruins and the beautiful Spanish colonial architecture.
Cusco sits high in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 3,416 m (11,207 ft). Many travelers cannot even consider visiting Cusco as a result of respiratory weakness which is exacerbated by the high altitude. The population of 255,683 (1985 est.) is mostly Indian, and Quechua, the Inca language, is still widely spoken. The area is subject to earthquakes, which is why the old stone architecture is so particularly remarkable in its longevity.
Inca tribes are believed to have come to Cusco from the Lake Titicaca region in about the 11th century. The city was considered the center of the Inca world, and it was designed in the form of a puma, with the 15th-century fortress of Sacsayhuaman as the head.
Cusco is known for its architecture of massive stone blocks which were cut and fitted so perfectly that no mortar was needed. The Coricancha, which is now the church of Santo Domingo, and the fortress of Sacsayhuaman are the best examples of this type of construction.
A great wealth of silver and gold poured into Cuzco from all over the country, filling the temples and palaces. (especially the Coricancha). These treasures were plundered by Francisco Pizarro and his crew in 1533, destroying the city. They built a new city on the ruins of the old, and with the treasures they did not send back to Spain, the magnificent edifices of their churches were decorated.
