The ancient city of Machu Picchu was built in present-day Peru.
Machu Picchu is an Inca citadel located high in the Andes above the Urubamba River valley. Archaeological evidence indicates that it was constructed during the fifteenth century, most likely under the Inca ruler Pachacuti, who transformed the empire into a major Andean power.
The site contains finely fitted stone buildings, terraces, plazas, and ceremonial spaces. Its agricultural terraces helped stabilize steep slopes and support cultivation, while channels and fountains distributed water. The exact purpose of Machu Picchu remains debated; it may have served as a royal estate, religious center, or retreat connected to the Inca elite.
The Spanish conquest disrupted the Inca state in the sixteenth century, but Machu Picchu was not recorded by the Spanish during the conquest and remained relatively unknown outside the region. Hiram Bingham brought international attention to it in 1911, although local residents already knew of the site. Peru protects it as a major archaeological and tourism destination.