The fortress of Sacsayhuaman
Sacsayhuamán is one of the most astonishing buildings in the world. Construction is believed to have begun during the reign of the Inca Pachacutec in the 15th century.
It is believed that more than 20,000 men extracted the stones from nearby quarries and transported them 20 kilometers to the hill above the city of Cusco. Today, it is estimated that Sacsayhuamán retains only 40 percent of its original structure. Even so, the site has structures weighing up to 125 tons. How did the Incas build Sacsayhuamán with structures of an incredible weight and size for its time? Many questions remain a mystery. Therein lies the beauty of this archaeological site.
Where is?
The Sacsayhuaman archaeological site is located 2 kilometers north of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas. It stands at 3,700 meters above sea level (masl).
It extends over an area of more than 3,000 hectares, on a hill surrounded by mountains. The area boasts beautiful landscapes with abundant flora and fauna (llamas and falcons are particularly noteworthy).