Cusco

Cusco (or Cuzco) is the most interesting tourist city in Peru, located in the Andes at an altitude of 3400 meters. In Europe on such height there are even no bushes. Almost all the tourists are visited Cusco as it is located on the way to Machu Picchu.

It is the perfect place to spend a few nights and see all the interesting places around. If you are planning to do so, buy a general tourist ticket (http://www.cosituc.gob.pe, $43 in 2015). We bought it in Saksaywaman.


Cusco is an ancient city, the ruler Pachacuti greatly expanded the empire of the Incas and made the city an important capital. In 1533 came the Spaniards and completely rebuilt it. Inca brickwork can be found only in a few places in the city, such as the Hatunrumiyoc street.


There are no moto-taxi in Cusco and that is very good for tourists.

As in all other cities of the country, central square is the most interesting place. Plaza de Armas played a crucial role not only on the territory of Peru but also throughout South America, as it has been the central square of the largest empire in the world. In 1781 Spaniards killed here last Inca Tupac Amaru II. Two cathedrals were built on the spot of the former Inca palaces.
















In the middle of the square stands a fountain with a statue of the Inca ruler.


We lived right on the central square at the El Virrey Boutique (booking.com). View from the window.






Snout


Beautiful light


Female police officers are constantly whistling


In Cusco, like in Arequipa, there many courtyards (patio), but here they are all used by shops or hotels.


Old "beetles" are very popular across Peru.


Koricancha was the most important temple of the Inca empire, although it was built before incas. Dedicated to the Inti - the sun god.


In the days of the Inca walls and the floor of the temple were decorated with gold plates. Almost all of the gold has been given to Spaniards as a ransom for the ruler Atahualpa. After receiving the ransom, Atahualpa was executed.


The temple itself was not preserved, Cathedral of Santa Domingo is built around the remains of the temple. Inside is a museum where you can see the walls of Coricancha and various artifacts.






The historic center of Cusco is quite large, you can walk here all the day long. In the morning, when the sun is above the Saksayvaman and Christ, it makes sense to climb up to two viewing points within the city. The first one is near the church of San Cristobal.




Second one is above the Plaza San Blas. Go there from San Cristobal, in one place you have to turn from the Tandapata street to the Kiskapata street.




On the way from San Cristobal there will be a huge rock-stone. This is not interesting archaeological site Huaca Sapantiana, but from it is visible an aqueduct of the colonial era.


Down to the central square you go down through the San Blas district, which is pretty nice, very similar to Spain.




If you do not want to climb high, we found another viewpoint right near the Plaza de Armaz. It is located here.


In this small square you need to climb the fence to the left.


View from there:


There are other viewpoints, for example Saksayvaman or the statue of Christ, but it's not easy to reach them on foot.

Also we visited one of the festivals in Cusco.












Getting there: There is an airport in Cusco, so it is convenient to get there by plane. The airport is in the city, take any taxi at the exit of the terminal. Find here timetable of the buses to/from Cusco.