Cusco was the centre of the Inca Empire, and many temples and structures were located in or close to town, like the temple for
Inti, the Sun God at present day Qorikancha, the citadel of Sacsayhuaman up on the hill to the north and the Quenqo temple
dedicated to Mother Earth.
When the Spaniards arrived in 1533 after their victory at the Battle of Cajamarca they spoiled
no time and thouroughly plundered the place for gold and silver.
During the colonial era, Inca sites were used as
a quarry for churches and other buildings. What presently remains are the fundaments and first layers of dry wall constructions. Still
it gives a good impression of the craftsmanship of the Incas.
Cusco has a rich colonial heritage, mixed with a touch of Inca like the
cathedral from the 16th century. It is the main hub for tourists that flock to the major Inca sites and receives more than 2 million
visitor per annum. The city sits at an altitude of 3400 m and many people suffer from altitude sickness after they have flown in from
Lima.
We visited Cuzco and its surroundings in June 2008 and also got a touch of the altitude sickness.
