City of Cuzco

The city of Cuzco is located in the Cuzco Province of southeastern Peru. Today's Cuzco was built by Spanish colonists on the ruins of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, and is the cradle of ancient Inca culture. As such, it is famous for its many Inca ruins and Baroque architecture. In 1983, UNESCO listed it as a cultural heritage site and included it in the World Heritage List. The ancient city of Cuzco is located in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Under the Inca ruler Pachacuti, it developed into a complex urban center with unique religious and administrative functions. The ancient city is surrounded by clearly visible agricultural, handicraft, and industrial areas. When the Spanish occupied the land in the 16th century, the invaders preserved the original buildings, but also built Baroque churches and palaces in the declining Indian city.