iconic site Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu 

Machu Picchu is an ancient Incan citadel located in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It is considered one of the most iconic and breathtaking archaeological sites in the world, attracting millions of visitors every year.

The citadel was built around 1450 AD during the height of the Incan Empire by the emperor Pachacuti as a royal estate. It was abandoned just over a century later during the Spanish conquest of Peru and remained hidden from the outside world until it was rediscovered in 1911 by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham.

Machu Picchu is situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley, and its location was carefully chosen for its natural beauty, strategic positioning, and spiritual significance. The citadel was constructed using traditional Incan building techniques, including large, precisely cut stones that fit together without mortar. The architecture of the site is characterized by its use of terraces, ramps, and stairways that follow the contours of the mountain and create a series of interconnecting spaces and rooms.

The site is divided into two main sections: the urban sector and the agricultural sector. The urban sector consists of temples, palaces, and public buildings, while the agricultural sector includes terraces and fields that were used for farming and growing crops.

The most well-known feature of Machu Picchu is the Intihuatana stone, a carved rock that served as a solar clock and ceremonial site. Other notable structures include the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Three Windows, and the Temple of the Condor.

Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. It is now heavily protected and preserved, with strict regulations in place to ensure its continued conservation. Visitors to Machu Picchu can explore the site on foot, either by themselves or with a guided tour.