Imagine emerging from the morning mist to see an entire ancient city clinging impossibly to a mountaintop, surrounded by the dizzying green cliffs of the Peruvian Andes. This is Machu Picchu, the Incan citadel often called the “Lost City,” and a certified New Seven Wonder of the World.
Visiting this sacred site is more than a trip; it is a pilgrimage that connects you to the genius and mystery of the Incan Empire.
What Makes This Site a Wonder?
Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century by the Inca emperor Pachacuti (Pachacútec) and is believed to have served as a royal estate or a sacred religious retreat. Abandoned barely a century later, it was preserved because the Spanish conquistadors never found it.
As you navigate the stone pathways, look for these architectural marvels that showcase the Incas’ incredible skill:
- The Stone Work: Notice the technique called Ashlar. The massive granite blocks are cut so precisely that they fit together without the use of mortar—a skill that has kept the city earthquake-proof for over five centuries.
- Agricultural Terraces: The hundreds of towering, man-made terraces (andenes) cover the steep slopes, designed not only for farming (primarily maize and potatoes) but also to protect the mountain from erosion and landslides.
- The Temple of the Sun: This magnificent curved structure was used for celestial observation and religious ceremonies, proving the Incas’ deep understanding of astronomy.
- The Intihuatana Stone: Meaning “Hitching Post of the Sun,” this stone pillar was likely an astronomical clock or calendar, used by priests to track the solstices.