What was the capital city of the Inca Empire?

The capital city of the Inca Empire was Cusco, also spelled Cuzco.

Located in the Andes of southeastern Peru, Cusco was the empire’s political, religious, and administrative center. The city stood near the Sacred Valley and connected to the enormous road network that linked the four quarters of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca name for their empire. Major officials and regional leaders maintained residences there, reinforcing Cusco’s role as the heart of imperial government.

Inca tradition connected the city’s expansion with Pachacuti, the ruler who transformed the Kingdom of Cusco into a powerful empire during the 15th century. Many accounts say the city was planned in the shape of a puma, a sacred animal, although the exact historical development of its layout was more gradual and complex.

Cusco was captured by Spanish forces in 1533. Francisco Pizarro later established Lima as the colonial capital because its coastal location offered easier communication with Spain. Cusco nevertheless remained a major Andean cultural and religious center.