Cusco, once the capital city of the Incas, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas. In 1983 the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins of the old Inca city became the foundation for the Spanish architecture which exists today. Walking through the narrow streets lined by Inca walls, visitors can't help but feel
the history that exists here.
The main tourist area is the Plaza de Armas and the surrounding streets. Many of the cities main attractions are within a few blocks of the Plaza. This is also where visitors will find some of the best restaurants, hotels, and shopping in Cusco.
Uphill, to the northeast of the Plaza de Armas is the San Blas district. Cobble stoned streets lead up the hillside to this quaint little area. Many visitors choose to stay in this section of the city, which is much quieter than the central area and offers fine views over the entire city.
History
The history of Cusco and the Inca Empire is hard to distinguish from the myths and legends. It is generally believed that the Ticsanaku first reached the Cusco area around 700 AD and the Wari arrived shortly thereafter. The Incas arose when these two cultures collapsed, sometime around 1100 AD, although they did not move into the Cusco area immediately.
The city of Cusco, crafted in the shape of a Puma, was designed by Pachacutec in the mid 1400s. He was a great planner and master builder, and was also responsible for building the famous Coricancha temple.
In the early 1500s, with the arrival of the Europeans, diseases and epidemics spread down through South America from Central America and the Caribbean, wiping out scores of people. One casualty of the epidemics was Huayna Capa, the last ruler of the united Inca Empire. Following his death the empire was divided in two sections, one section for each of his sons to rule over. Unfortunately each son wanted total control and a civil war broke out.
During this same period the Spanish arrived in South America and eventually marched on Cusco. The gold and silver was looted under the direction of Francisco Pizzaro, who entered the city himself for the first time in 1533. Uprisings between the Spanish and the Incas followed but the heavily armed Spanish conquered the Incas. Once the gold and silver were taken from Cusco the Spanish focus shifted to Lima, and Cusco became another colonial town.
The most significant historical events since that time have largely been earthquakes. The worst earthquakes to rock Cusco were in 1650, 1950, and 1986. The quake of 1650 devastated Cusco, destroying many of the churches and historical buildings. Despite this Cusco has been resilient and rebuilt following each of these disasters.
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