Cusco was the ancient political and religious centre of the Inca Empire.
Located high in the Andes of present-day Peru, Cusco served as the capital of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca state that expanded across much of western South America. The city’s name is often translated as “navel,” reflecting the Inca view of Cusco as the centre of their world.
Inca builders laid finely fitted stonework around important temples and public buildings. The Coricancha, or Temple of the Sun, was one of the empire’s most significant religious sites. Spanish forces captured Cusco in 1533, after which colonial buildings were constructed over or beside Inca foundations.
Cusco is sometimes confused with Machu Picchu, the famous royal estate and archaeological site farther northwest. Machu Picchu was important, but it was not the Inca imperial capital. Cusco remains a major city and a gateway to the Andes.