Peru: Cuzco: Tours of Cuzco

Nestled 11,000 feet high in the Andes Mountains of Peru, the former Incan capital of Cuzco is steeped in awe-inspiring ruins of a bygone era. This fascinating city was the center of a powerful Incan empire for nearly a century until Spain conquered it in the 1530s. These days, future travelers to Peru can utilize the World Wide Web to get more information on Cuzco and its rich culture and history.

Cuzco presents an interesting blend of old and new architecture. Among its many monuments to the Incan civilization of yesteryear are the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Remnants of limestone and volcanic rock structures built by the Incas, such as the Coricancha foundation, are strewn throughout the city along narrow cobblestone streets. The transformation of Cuzco from an Incan empire into a township is established by churches like the La Compania located in the central square of Plaza de Armas as well as various colonial buildings that were erected on the foundations of Incan palaces.

More modern buildings in Cuzco include the Museo Inka, the Monasterio, a grand hotel that was once a seminary for monks, and intimate restaurants like Georky's, El Truco, Cafe Roma and the El Meson de los Espaderos, all of which are a short walk away from the Plaza de Armas. Local delicacies include potato and ceviche soups, a toasted corn concoction called cancha and rocoto relleno, a spicy bell pepper stuffed with ground beef. Cerveza Cusquena and pisco sour, a mixture of Peruvian brandy, sugar, lemon and egg white, are popular drinks of the region. If these tempting dishes and spirits aren't enough to entice you to consider visiting Cuzco, then look to the World Wide Web for further information that will surely make you consider this historical city as an option for your next trip abroad.