Cuzco or Cusco
[key], city, alt. 11,207 ft (3,416 m), capital of Cuzco dept., S Peru, at
the confluence of the Huatanay and Tullamayo rivers. Its population is
predominantly of indigenous descent. It is a transportation hub and a
trading center for agricultural produce and for woolen textiles produced in
the Cuzco mills. It also has a large tourist industry, based on its
proximity to many ancient Inca sites. According to legend, Cuzco was founded
by Manco Capac,
first of the Inca rulers. The city had massive palaces and temples (most
notably the Temple of the Sun, now the site of a Dominican convent), which
were lavishly decorated with gold medallions and ornaments. When Francisco
Pizarro entered
the city in 1533, it was plundered; and on its ruins the conquerors and
their descendants built the colonial city, using the ancient walls (many of
which are still visible) as foundations for new buildings. An earthquake in
1650 destroyed much of the city, and many of the city's notable Baroque
buildings were built in subsequent years. The cathedral and the churches of
the Society of Jesus and of La Merced are the most notable of Cuzco's many
churches. A severe earthquake in 1950 destroyed much of the city, but most
of the historic buildings have been restored. The National Univ. of Cuzco is
in the city, as are many art, history, and other museums; nearby are the
ruins of the Inca fortress Sacsahuamán. Vinicunca, or
Rainbow Mtn., is to the southeast.
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