The citadel of Machu Picchu (Now one of the new 7th wonders of the world) is the region of Cusco’s most important tourist attraction and definitively of Peru. Discovered in 1911 by the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, this city is considering one of the most extraordinary examples of scenic architecture in the whole world.
It could have been a military outpost strategically places for the conquest of the jungle (or antisuyo) and help to contain potential insurrections of the native antis of the region. It is also said to have been a secret shelter for the acllas or virgins of the Sun, who were dedicated to the service of the Inca, as, in one sector of the citadel, Bingham discovered a burial ground containing only female rests. Other specialists believe it was a favorite rest area of the Inca, or it was a major sanctuary built in honor of the Inca Pachacutec, who saved Cusco’s population from invasion by the Chancas.
The city of Machu Picchu was build at the top of a granite mountain. The Incas, using ingenious engineering techniques, were able to transport heavy stone blocks up the mountainside, and once there, they used their excellent stonework skills to produce amazingly polished stones that fit together perfectly. Reached by hikers along the world-famous Inca Trail or via a spectacular railway journey, Machu Picchu has lost none of its mystery in the ninety years since its discovery. |