Machu Picchu

Overview

Built around 1450 under the Inca emperor Pachacuti, Machu Picchu was likely a royal estate, religious site, and astronomical observatory. Its precisely fitted granite walls were largely intact when explorers reached it again in the 20th century.

Historical Context

The Inca Empire (Tawantinsuyu) was the largest pre-Columbian empire in the Americas, stretching down the Andes from modern Colombia to Chile.

What to Notice

• Granite walls fitted without mortar.
• Agricultural terraces stepping down the mountain.
• Mist drifting through the peaks at dawn.