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Cuzco
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Overview
Welcome to the navel of the world. The undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, Cuzco is the continent鈥檚 oldest continuously inhabited city and the gateway to Machu Picchu. Cosmopolitan Cuzco (also Cusco, or Qosq鈥檕 in Quechua) thrives with a measure of contradiction. Ornate cathedrals squat over Inca temples, massage hawkers ply the narrow cobblestone passages, a rural Andean woman feeds bottled water to her pet llama while the finest boutiques sell pricey alpaca knits.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Cuzco
This newish museum exhibits 360 pieces from Machu Picchu taken by Hiram Bingham's expeditions and recently returned by Yale University, including stone鈥
Cuzco
An excellent way to explore the fascinating Inca cosmovision. They defined constellations of darkness as well as light, used astronomy to predict weather鈥
Cuzco
A squatter on the site of Viracocha Inca鈥檚 palace, the cathedral was built using blocks pilfered from the nearby Inca site of Sacsaywam谩n. Its鈥
Cuzco
If you visit only one Cuzco site, make it these Inca ruins forming the base of the colonial church and convent of Santo Domingo. Once the richest temple鈥
Cuzco
The charmingly modest Museo Inka, a steep block northeast of the Plaza de Armas, is the best museum in town for those interested in the Incas. The鈥
Cuzco
In Inca times, the plaza, called Huacaypata or Aucaypata, was the heart of the capital. Today it鈥檚 the nerve center of the modern city. Two flags usually鈥
Iglesia de La Compa帽铆a de Jes煤s
Cuzco
Built upon the palace of Huayna C谩pac, the last inca to rule an undivided, unconquered empire, the church was built by the Jesuits in 1571 and鈥
Templo y Convento de La Merced
Cuzco
Cuzco鈥檚 third most important colonial church, La Merced was destroyed in the 1650 earthquake, but was quickly rebuilt. To the left of the church, at the鈥
Plan with a local
Articles
Latest stories from Cuzco
ArticlesThe beautiful Cuzco in Peru is being cited as an ideal place for US retirees to liveNov 20, 2018 鈥 1 min read
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