Cusco
Cusco or Cuzco ([ˈkusko]; Quechua: Qusqu ([ˈqɔsqɔ]) is a city in southeastern Peru near the Sacred Valley of the Andes mountain range and the Huatanay river. It is the capital of the Department of Cusco and of the Cusco Province. The city is the seventh most populous in Peru; in 2017, it had a population of 428,450. Its elevation is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft).
Cusco | |
|---|---|
| Cusco or Cuzco Qosqo (Quechua) | |
Plaza de Armas Sacsayhuamán Fountain at the Plaza de Armas View of colonial houses Aerial view of Cusco | |
|
Coat of arms | |
| Nickname(s): La Ciudad Imperial (The Imperial City), El Ombligo del Mundo (The Navel of the World) | |
Districts of Cusco | |
Cusco Location within Peru Cusco #Location within South America Cusco #Location within Earth | |
| Coordinates: 13°31′30″S 71°58′20″W | |
| Country | Peru |
| Region | Cusco |
| Province | Cusco |
| Founded | 1100 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Víctor G. Boluarte Medina |
| Area | |
| • Total | 385.1 km2 (148.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 3,399 m (11,152 ft) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Total | 428,450 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 427,218 |
| • Density | 1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | cuzqueño/a, cusqueño/a |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (PET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 |
| Area code | 84 |
| Website | www |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | City of Cuzco |
| Location | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Criteria | Cultural: iii, iv |
| Reference | 273 |
| Inscription | 1983 (7th Session) |
The city was the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th century until the 16th-century Spanish conquest. In 1983, Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO with the title "City of Cuzco". It has become a major tourist destination, hosting over 2 million visitors a year and providing passage to numerous Incan ruins, such as Machu Picchu, one of the Seven modern wonders of the world and others. The Constitution of Peru (1993) designates the city as the Historical Capital of Peru. The city is often dubbed the ''Rome of America''.