Peru is the South American country home to Cusco, the historic Inca imperial capital.
Cusco lies high in the Andes of southeastern Peru. Under the Inca Empire, it served as the political, religious, and administrative center of an extensive state that reached across much of the Andes. The city’s name is commonly written Cusco in English and Spanish, while Qosqo is a Quechua form.
Spanish forces captured Cusco in the 16th century and built colonial churches and government structures over or beside Inca foundations. This combination of Inca stonework and Spanish colonial architecture gives the historic center its distinctive appearance. UNESCO listed the City of Cuzco as a World Heritage Site in 1983.
Cusco is a major gateway for visitors traveling to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. It is not Peru’s modern capital; that distinction belongs to Lima, on the Pacific coast.