At an elevation of 11,200 ft, Cusco combines the Inca legacy with Spanish

colonial architecture. The city of Cuzco was founded around 1100 A.D.

 

Legend says that in the beginning the land was in darkness and the great Lord Sun took

pity on these wretched creatures and sent to earth his own son, Manco Capac, "to spread civilization and enlightenment". The goddess Moon sent her daughter Mama Ocllo to be his bride. They appeared on earth emerging from the waters of Lake Titicaca. Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo began a long odyssey searching for the place where to found their kingdom.

 

At length they came to a fertile valley where Manco Capac performing the test assigned by the Sun, plunged his golden staff into the ground, this time it sank deep into the soil and disappeared, here they found their capital and called it Cuzco "navel of world".

 

A guide to Cusco:

http://www.andeantravelweb.com/peru/destinations/cusco