Cuzco - 2005-10-30-CU

   Cusco was the capital of Tahuantinsuyu (or Inca Empire). The first Spaniards arrived to the city on November 15th, 1533. Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, however, officially refounded Cusco on March 23rd, 1534, naming it the "Very noble and great city of Cusco". The many buildings constructed after the Spanish conquest are of Spanish influence with a mix of Inca architecture, including the Santa Clara and San Blas barrios. Often, Spanish buildings are juxtaposed atop the massive stone walls built by the Inca. The major earthquake that hit Cusco in 1950 badly destroyed the Dominican Priory and Church of Santo Domingo, which were built on top of the impressive Koricancha (Temple of the Sun). The city's Inca architecture, however, firmly withstood the earthquake. The 1950 earthquake was the second time that had destroyed the Dominican Priory, the first being in 1650 when another major earthquake wracked Cusco, destroying the Dominican Priory as well. The altitude is 3399 meters, or about 11,150 feet.

Saqsaywaman - 2005-10-30-SA

   Sacsayhuamán (aka Saqsaywaman) are walls near the old city of Cuzco. Like all Inca stonework there is still mystery surrounding how they were constructed. Thanks to as yet unexplained preciseness in stone-cutting, the structure is built in such a way that a single piece of paper will not fit between two stones.

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