Calle Triunfo, Historic street in Cusco, Peru
Calle Triunfo is a lane running through central Cusco, connecting the main plaza to the Temple of the Sun with a stone-paved surface. Buildings with layered architecture line both sides of this 6-meter-wide passage.
This lane was laid out in the 15th century on foundations from Inca times, when Cusco was developed as the empire's capital. Later, Spanish colonists added their own buildings directly on top of the existing Inca foundations.
The street shows how Spanish colonizers built directly over existing Inca structures, visible in the facades and foundations throughout the space. Residents and visitors now walk past this layering of two distinct worlds as part of daily life.
The passage slopes uphill and downhill, so comfortable walking shoes are useful for this terrain. Shops and eating places dot the route, offering places to stop and look around.
The Inca built their walls without mortar by shaping stones so precisely they fit together perfectly. You can still see this remarkable stonework today in the foundations visible along the street.
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