Inca Emperor Pachacuti Statue, Cusco, Peru Poster

"Pachacuti Statue Across from the Cathedral Basilica in Cusco, Peru" by Catherine Sherman A statue of the great Inca emperor Pachacuti stands on a fountain in the Plaza de Armas, the main square of Cusco, Peru, across from the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco. The cathedral was completed in 1654, almost a hundred years after construction began. The Cathedral, in addition to its official status as a place of worship, contains many pieces of Cusco's colonial art. It also holds many archeological artifacts and relics. The cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the City of Cusco listing in 1983. The cathedral's construction began in 1559 on the foundations of Kiswarkancha, an Inca temple. Most of the stones from the building were taken from Saqsaywaman, an Inca holy and defensive structure located on the hills above Cusco. Pachacuti, Inca emperor from 1438 to 1471), was an empire builder who greatly expanded the Inca empire. He has been likened to Philip II of Macedonia. Similarly, his son Topa Inca Yupanqui is regarded as a counterpart of Philip’s son Alexander III the Great. Pachacuti first conquered various peoples in what is now southern Peru and then extended his power northwesterly to Quito, Ecuador. He is said to have devised the city plan adopted for his capital, Cusco, which is in southern Peru. The Cusco site was the historic capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th-century Spanish conquest. In 1983 Cusco was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has become a major tourist destination, hosting nearly 2 million visitors a year. The Constitution of Peru designates it as the Historical Capital of Peru. Many people begin their journey to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Cusco.