(Right): The cathedral bell tower at the central square (below) of Cuzco perches in front of the surrounding mountains.

Cuzco is undoubtedly the best known city in Peru to the world, thanks to its historical significance as the capital of the Inca Empire. Today, the Inca relics and monuments in or near this ancient imperial city have made it the archaeological centre of the Americas. Coupled with the Spanish colonial architectures, the city attracts tens of thousands of visitors per year to its labyrinth of narrow alleys, as well as the lively and flamboyant villages in the nearby Urubamba Valley.