Cusco: Difference between revisions

{{about|the city}}

{{Use dmy dates |date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Cusco

| nickname = {{lang|es|La Ciudad Imperial}} (The Imperial City), {{lang|es|El Ombligo del Mundo}} (The Navel of the World)

| motto =

| image_skyline = {{multiple image

| border = infobox

| total_width = 290

| caption_align = center

| caption2 = [[Sacsayhuamán]]

| caption3 = [[Qorikancha]]

}}

| image_flag = Flag of Cusco (2021).svg

| flag_size = 100px

| image_shield = Cusco Emblem.svg

| mapsize = 200px

| map_caption = Districts of Cusco

| pushpin_map = Peru#South America#Earth

| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->

| pushpin_relief = 1

| subdivision_type = Country

| leader_title = [[Provincial Municipality of Cusco|Mayor]]

| leader_name = Víctor G. Boluarte Medina

| established_date2 =

| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->

| established_date3 =

| population_footnotes =

| population_note =

| population_total = 428450

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_demonym = {{lang|es|cuzqueño/a}}, {{lang|es|cusqueño/a}}

| timezone = PET

| utc_offset = -5

| timezone_DST = <!-- No -->

| utc_offset_DST = <!-- No -->-5

| elevation_m = 3399

| elevation_ft =

| area_code = 84

| child = yes

| Official_name= [[Historic Centre of Cusco|City of Cusco]]

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

 

 

{{TOC limit|3=}}

 

There is no international, official spelling of the city's name. In English-language publications both "s"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/south-america/peru/cusco-and-around/cusco/|title=Cusco – Cusco and around Guide|work=roughguides.com|access-date=26 March 2013|archive-date=3 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903082349/https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/south-america/peru/cusco-and-around/cusco/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/peru/|title=The World Factbook|work=cia.gov|date=19 July 2022 }}</ref> and "z"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/273 |title=City of Cuzco – UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher=Whc.unesco.org |date=21 August 2007 |access-date=22 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/peru/cuzco/ |title=Cuzco Travel Information and Travel Guide – Peru |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=22 July 2009}}</ref> can be found. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' and ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'' prefer "Cuzco",<ref>''Oxford Dictionary of English'', 2nd ed, revised, 2009, Oxford University Press, eBook edition, accessed 30 August 2017.</ref><ref>''Merriam-Webster Online''|[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cuzco], accessed 30 August 2017.</ref> and in scholarly writings "Cuzco" is used more often than "Cusco".<ref>JSTOR (cuzco) AND la:(eng OR en) has 12,687 articles vs. only 4,168 articles for (cusco) AND la:(eng OR en); JSTOR accessed 20 April 2024.</ref> The city's international airport code is [[Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport|CUZ]], reflecting the earlier Spanish spelling.

 

==History==

=== Killke culture ===

 

 

===Inca period===

[[File:Capitulo-XCII.jpg|thumb|The first image of Cusco in Europe. [[Pedro Cieza de León]]. ''Crónica del Perú'', 1553.|left]]

 

 

Pizarro ceremoniously gave [[Manco Inca]] the Incan fringe as the new Peruvian leader.<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|221}} Pizarro encouraged some of his men to stay and settle in the city, giving out [[repartimiento]]s, or land grants to do so.<ref name=Pizarro>Pizzaro, P. (1571). ''Relation of the Discovery and Conquest of the Kingdoms of Peru'', Vol. 1–2. New York: Cortes Society, RareBooksClub.com, {{ISBN|9781235937859}}</ref>{{rp|46}} [[Alcaldes]] were established and [[regidor]]es on 24 March 1534, which included the brothers [[Gonzalo Pizarro]] and [[Juan Pizarro (conquistador)|Juan Pizarro]]. Pizarro left a garrison of 90 men and departed for [[Jauja]] with Manco Inca.<ref name=Prescott/>{{rp|222, 227}}

[[File:Colonial balconies of Cusco Ephraim George Squier.jpg|alt=|thumb|''View in the Plaza del Cabildo, Cuzco'' in 1877 by [[Ephraim George Squier]]<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/peruincidentsoft00squi/page/430/mode/2up|page=431|title=Peru; incidents of travel and exploration in the land of the Incas|author=[[Ephraim George Squier]]|year=1877|publisher=[[Harper (publisher)|Harper & Brothers]]}}</ref>]]

[[File:Vista panorámica de la ciudad de Cuzco (circa 1897) (cropped).jpg|alt=|thumb|Panoramic view of Cusco in 1897, showing the city, surrounding farmland, and mountains. "CUZCO" is written on the ground.]]

===Present===

 

 

In the 1990s, during the [[Provincial Municipality of Cusco|mayoral administration]] of Mayor [[Daniel Estrada (politician)|Daniel Estrada Pérez]], the city underwent a new process of beautification through the restoration of monuments and the construction of plazas, fountains and monuments. Likewise, thanks to the efforts of this authority, various recognitions were achieved, such as the declaration as "Historical Capital of Peru" contained in the text of the Political Constitution of Peru of 1993. It was also decided to change the coat of arms of Cusco, leaving aside the colonial coat of arms and adopting the "[[Sol de Echenique]]" as the new coat of arms. Additionally, the change of the official name of the city was proposed to adopt the Quechua word ''Qosqo'', but this change was reversed a few years later. Currently, Cusco is the most important tourist destination in Peru. Under the administration of mayor Daniel Estrada Pérez, a staunch supporter of the ''[[Academia Mayor de la Lengua Quechua]]'', between 1983 and 1995 the [[Quechua languages|Quechua]] name ''Qosqo'' was officially adopted for the city. Tourism in the city was drastically affected by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Peru]] and the [[2022–2023 Peruvian protests]], with the latter event costing the area 10 million soles daily.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vega |first=Ysela |title=Cusco sin 4.000 reservas hoteleras y pérdidas de S/10 millones al día |url=https://larepublica.pe/sociedad/2023/02/06/cuzco-4000-reservas-hoteleras-perdidas-de-s-10-millones-al-dia-dina-boluarte-paro-nacional-protestas-326748 |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=La Republica |date=6 February 2023 |language=es}}</ref>

*In 2007 the Organización Capital Americana de la Cultura awarded Cusco the title of Cultural Capital of America.<ref name=":1" />

*In 2007, the New7Wonders Foundation designated [[Machu Picchu]] one of the [[New Seven Wonders of the World]], following a worldwide poll.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/08/1972797.htm|title=Opera House snubbed as new Wonders unveiled|date=8 July 2007|work=abc.net.au}}</ref>

 

==Geography==

 

=== Location ===

Cusco extends throughout the Huatanay (or Watanay) river valley. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cusco{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}, its elevation is around {{convert|3400|m|ft|abbr=on}}. To its north is the [[Vilcabamba mountain range]] with {{convert|4000|-|6000|m|ft|adj=mid|abbr=off|-high|sp=us}} mountains. The highest peak is [[Salcantay]] ({{convert|6271|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=off|sp=us}}) about {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} northwest of Cusco.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andes.zoom-maps.com/|title=Map of the Andes|work=zoom-maps.com|access-date=18 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924154519/http://andes.zoom-maps.com/|archive-date=24 September 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

 

===Climate===

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| metric first = y

| single line = y

| Dec record high C = 29.9

| year record high C = 29.9

| year mean C = 12.5

| Jan record low C = 0.0

| Feb record low C = 0.0

| Nov sun = 195

| Dec sun = 158

{{cite web

| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REGIII/PR/84686.TXT

| publisher = Météo Climat

| language = fr

{{cite web

| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_846860_kt.pdf

|archive-date=27 April 2013

|df=dmy }}</ref>

}}

 

== Government ==

{{See also|Provincial Municipality of Cusco}}

Throughout its history, Cusco has had a marked political importance. During the Inca period, it was the main political center of the region from which the [[Inca Empire]] was ruled and where the political and religious elite lived. After its Spanish foundation, it lost prominence due to [[Francisco Pizarro]]'s decision to establish the capital of the new territories in the city of [[Lima]] because it had close access to the sea and communication with the metropolis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sisbib.unmsm.edu.pe/Exposiciones/FundLima/fundacion/fundacion_Lima.htm |title=Fundación de Lima |publisher=[[Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos]] |access-date=29 April 2011}}</ref> However, Cusco continued to be an important city within the viceregal political scheme to the point of being the first city in the entire Viceroyalty to have a bishop.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Angles Vargas |first1=Víctor |title=Historia del Cusco Colonial Tomo II Libro segundo |date=1983 |publisher=Industrialgrafica S.A |location=Lima |author-link=Víctor Angles Vargas}}</ref> Its participation in the trade routes during the viceroyalty guaranteed its political importance<ref>{{cite web |title=Informe Económico y Social Región Cusco |url=http://www.bcrp.gob.pe/docs/Proyeccion-Institucional/Encuentros-Regionales/2009/Cusco/Informe-Economico-Social/IES-Cusco.pdf |publisher=Banco Central de Reserva del Perú |date=22-23 May 2009 |access-date=6 December 2019 |page=21}}</ref> as it remained the capital of the corregimiento established in these territories and, later, of the Intendancy of Cusco and, towards the end of the viceroyalty, of the Royal Audience of Cusco.

 

== Demographics ==

The city had a population of about 348,935 people in 2007 and 428,450 people in 2017 according to [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática|INEI]].

 

|-

! City district

 

=== Tourism ===

 

In order to keep up with tourist demand, the city is constructing a new airport in [[Chinchero District|Chinchero]] known as [[Chinchero International Airport]]. Its main purpose is for tourists to bypass lay overs through Lima and connect the city to Europe and North America. It will replace the old airport, [[Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport]].

*ChocoMuseo (The Cacao and Chocolate Museum)<ref>[http://www.chocomuseo.com/english/our-locations/cusco-per/ Cacao and Chocolate Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621060710/http://www.chocomuseo.com/english/our-locations/cusco-per/|date=21 June 2015}}, Cusco</ref>

There are also some museums located at churches, like the {{ill|Iglesia de San Francisco de Asís (Cuzco)|es|lt=Museum and Convent of San Francisco}} and the Museum of [[Qoricancha]] Temple

 

=== Religion ===

 

=== Cuisine ===

 

 

=== Music ===

 

=== Sport ===

 

==Main sites==

 

The main basilica cathedral of the city was built between 1560 and 1664. The main material used was stone, which was extracted from nearby quarries, although some blocks of red granite were taken from the fortress of Saksaywaman.

 

This great cathedral presents late-Gothic, Baroque and plateresque interiors and has one of the most outstanding examples of colonial goldwork. Its carved wooden altars are also important.

 

The cathedral is the seat of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cuzco|Archdiocese of Cuzco]].

{{Clear}}

 

Inside is a large collection of paintings from the [[Cuzco School]].

 

 

 

By road, it is connected to the cities of [[Puerto Maldonado]], [[Arequipa]], Abancay, [[Juliaca]] and [[Puno]]. The road that connects it with the city of [[Abancay]] is also the fastest to reach Lima after a journey of more than 20 hours crossing the departments of Apurímac, Ayacucho, Ica and Lima.

 

[[File:Ambulance Peru Cusco Hampi Land Plaza de Armas.jpg|thumb|Ambulance in the [[Plaza de Armas del Cuzco|Plaza de Armas]].]]

 

==Twin towns – sister cities==

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Athens]], Greece

*{{flagicon|PHL}} [[Baguio]], Philippines

*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Chartres]], France

*{{flagicon|HON}} [[Copán Ruinas]], Honduras

*{{flagicon|MEX}} [[San Miguel de Allende]], Mexico<ref>{{cite news |title=Twinning between the cities of Cusco and San Miguel de Allende is a reality |url=https://sanmigueltimes.com/2021/08/twinning-between-the-cities-of-cusco-and-san-miguel-de-allende-is-a-reality/ |access-date=27 May 2024 |publisher=San Miguel Times |date=23 August 2021}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], United States

*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]], United States<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Sister Cities|url=http://www.tempesistercities.org/meet-our-sister-cites/|website=tempesistercities.org|publisher=Tempe Sister Cities|access-date=2021-12-14}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Xi'an]], China