PERU ~ Cusco - UNESCO ~

... Wonderful aerial view of the city... located in the "sacred valley" of Peru... Cusco was the site of the historic capital of the Inca Empire.. famous for its curious blend of Inca and Spanish culture... colonial Spanish churches and convents have been built squarely on top of masterfully constructed Inca walls... despite the Spanish colonists’ best efforts to plunder the city of its Inca riches, they failed to completely destroy the massive network of Inca stonework, which continues to withstand both time and the elements while the Spanish buildings crack and crumble around them... with its numerous Inca temples, colonial churches, and vibrant plazas it has become a major tourist destination... hosting nearly 2 million visitors a year... Thanks a lot Anthony! ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

Cusco is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region and of the Cusco Province. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its elevation is around 3,400 m.

The indigenous name of this city is Qusqu. Although the name was used in Quechua, its origin is found in the Aymara language. The word is derived from the phrase qusqu wanka ('Rock of the owl'), related to the city's foundation myth of the Ayar Siblings. According to this legend, Ayar Awqa (Ayar Auca) acquired wings and flew to the site of the future city; there he was transformed into a rock to mark the possession of the land by his ayllu ("lineage").

In 1983, Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO with the title "City of Cuzco".

Stamp:

Visit of Pope Francis
(Issued 29-11-2018)