Cuzco

Cuzco, a city of Peru, stands 11,440 feet above sea-level, in a valley of the Andes, 345 miles ESE. of Lima. It was the ancient capital of the Incas (in whose language, says Garcilaso, Cuzco signifies 'navel'), and at the time of its conquest by Pizarro (1533) had 200,000 inhabitants. Now it has only some 18,000, but it is one of the finest cities in the republic, with a cathedral (1572-1654), a so-called university (1598), and some remnants of Cyclopean architecture.—Cuzco gives name to a department, with 238,445 inhabitants. See PERU.