n.
City (pop., 1998 est.: 278,590), south-central Peru.
It is located high in the Andes Mountains at an elevation of about 11,000 ft (3,300 m). Founded in the 11th century, it was once the capital of the vast Inca empire and was known as the "City of the Sun." Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured the city in 1533. It suffered major earthquake damage in 1950, though many sites have since been restored. Nearby ruins include an ancient Inca fortress, the city of Machu Picchu , and the Temple of the Sun. Its cathedral (1654) and university (1692) date from the colonial era. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.