Cuzco

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Cuzco City in s central Peru; capital of Cuzco department. An ancient capital of the Inca Empire from c.1200, it fell to the Spaniards in 1533. Cuzco was destroyed by earthquakes in 1650 and then rebuilt. It is a centre of archaeological research; nearby sites include the fortress of Sacsahuáman, and the Inca terraces at Pisac and Machu Picchu. Pop. (2002 est.) 282,600.

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