There’s no doubt about it; the Incas constructed many incredible archaeological sites, the most famous of which is Machu Picchu. In and around the city of Cusco, there are many more, and one of the most spectacular is Sacsayhuaman.
This fascinating construction sits above Cusco at 3,700 masl. Building work began during the government of Inca Pachacutec in the 15th century and they say that over 20 thousand men worked on it by taking the huge stones over 20km. Some structures weigh a huge 125 tons. Quite amazing, don’t you agree?
What Does Sacsayhuaman Mean?
In the Quechua language, it means ‘place where the hawk is satiated’. Many think that it was a fortress due to its location, but others believe it was used for ceremonies. It could well have been both.
The Architecture
The structure includes sacred buildings like shrines and towers, as well as residences, warehouses, roads, and aqueducts. For this reason, you’ll see that the landscape and atmosphere resemble other sites from the era like Machu Picchu.
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, one of the most famous Peruvian chroniclers, believed that Sacsayhuaman was the most impressive piece of architecture that the Incas built, and we tend to agree.
