Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti around 1450, but was abandoned a century later when the Spanish arrived. Although known locally, it remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911. It was constructed in the classical Inca style and functioned as an astronomical observatory, religious center, and summer palace for Inca kings. Some believe it was the last refuge of the Incas during the Spanish conquest, but archaeologists think it was already abandoned by then due to disease. Machu Picchu is now a Peruvian historical sanctuary and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1. The mystery of the
ramshackle town

2.  Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu
was built as an estate for the Inca emperor
Pachacuti (1438–1472). Often mistakenly referred
to as the "Lost City of the Incas" (a title more
accurately applied to Vilcabamba), it is the most
familiar icon of Inca civilization. The Incas built
the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century
later at the time of the Spanish Conquest.
Although known locally, it was not known to the
Spanish during the colonial period and remained
unknown to the outside world until American
historian Hiram Bingham brought it to
international attention in 1911.

3.  Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca
style, with polished dry-stone walls. Its three
primary structures are the Inti Watana, the
Temple of the Sun, and the Room of the Three
Windows. Most of the outlying buildings
have been reconstructed in order to give
tourists a better idea of how they originally
appeared

4.  In the Quechua language, machu means
"old" or "old person", while picchu
means "peak; mountain or prominence
with a broad base that ends in sharp
peaks", the name of the site means "old
peak"

6.  It was built in 1460 and functioned as an
astronomical observatory dating file as a
religious center and as a summer palace of the
kings. For many, it was the last refuge of the
Incas, in their fight against the Spanish
conquerors because of its inaccessible position.
Although extreme weather and climatic
conditions are not typical of the region, always
compared to the overall total of the ridges of
the Andes, human habitation for a long time in
the city Machu Picchu, it is not feasible.

8.  This is the main reason that archaeologists did
not accept that this city was the last refuge of
the Incas during the Spanish conquest. The city
seems deserted when the ruler Manco Inca
known as Manco Cápac II was launched in its
fight for independence of the Incas from the
Spanish Conquistadors (1529), because as
shown by the findings, at that time the city was
spread a deadly contagious disease.

9.  Since then no one has referred to this city,
which is identical to the birthplace of the Incas
in their mythology (Tampa-Interest), and no
one pressed again his foot there until 1911
discovered by American history and
archaeologist Hiram Bingham. Machu Picchu
was declared a Peruvian historical sanctuary in
1981 by the Government of Peru and by
UNESCO (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Area
in 1983. It is also one of the New Seven
Wonders of the World on July 7, 2007.

10.  Just 70 km. From the capital Cuzco, in the
solitude of unsurpassed scenery of the Andes,
lies at an altitude of 2,350 m. The legendary
Machu Picchu. It is built on an area of strategic
importance in the inaccessible peaks of the
mountain range Vilcanota, the fortified town of
Inca never trashed the boot of the Spanish
conquerors. Wrapped with a thick veil of
mystery, the state included since 1983 in the list
of monuments of UNESCO World Heritage.

11. Sophia Orfanou
Fotini Flora Halikia