The famous twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street shows what Inca skill?

Precise stone fitting without mortar

Painting on rock with mineral dyes

Cusco Quiz: Inca Walls, Andes and Sacred Valley of Peru

This Cusco quiz explores the former Inca capital high in Peru's Andes, with questions on Qorikancha and the Temple of the Sun, the zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán, the twelve-angled stone, the Inti Raymi festival, the Plaza de Armas, coca tea, Rainbow Mountain and the Sacred Valley. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Meaning
In the Quechua language of the Incas, Cusco is often said to mean what?
Altitude
Roughly how high is Cusco above sea level?
Temples
Which Inca temple, once covered in gold, now lies beneath the Santo Domingo convent?
Fortresses
Which hilltop Inca site above Cusco has huge zigzag stone walls?
Stones
The famous twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street shows what Inca skill?
Festivals
Which Inca festival honoring the sun god is reenacted at Sacsayhuamán every June 24?
Shape
According to tradition, the Inca ruler Pachacuti laid out Cusco in the shape of which animal?
Paintings
A Last Supper painting in Cusco Cathedral shows Jesus and the apostles eating which Andean dish?
Mountains
Which colorful striped peak, also called Vinicunca, is a popular day hike from Cusco?
Valleys
Which valley near Cusco is dotted with Inca villages such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: In the Quechua language of the Incas, Cusco is often said to mean what?
Answer: Navel of the world
The Incas saw Cusco as the center of their empire, Tawantinsuyu. Four main roads led from the city to the four regions of the empire.
Q2: Roughly how high is Cusco above sea level?
Answer: About 3,400 meters
Many visitors feel altitude sickness on arrival. Locals recommend resting, drinking water and sipping coca tea for the first days.
Q3: Which Inca temple, once covered in gold, now lies beneath the Santo Domingo convent?
Answer: Qorikancha
Qorikancha, also spelled Coricancha, was the Temple of the Sun. The Spanish built a church on its walls, which survived earthquakes the colonial parts did not.
Q4: Which hilltop Inca site above Cusco has huge zigzag stone walls?
Answer: Sacsayhuamán
Some stones weigh more than 100 tons and fit together without mortar. Visitors often joke that it sounds like sexy woman in English.
Q5: The famous twelve-angled stone on Hatun Rumiyoc street shows what Inca skill?
Answer: Precise stone fitting without mortar
Each of the stone's twelve sides fits perfectly against its neighbors. The wall was part of a palace of the Inca ruler Inca Roca.
Q6: Which Inca festival honoring the sun god is reenacted at Sacsayhuamán every June 24?
Answer: Inti Raymi
Inti Raymi marks the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Thousands of people watch actors play the Inca emperor and his court.
Q7: According to tradition, the Inca ruler Pachacuti laid out Cusco in the shape of which animal?
Answer: A puma
The fortress of Sacsayhuamán is said to form the puma's head. The condor, puma and snake were sacred animals in Inca belief.
Q8: A Last Supper painting in Cusco Cathedral shows Jesus and the apostles eating which Andean dish?
Answer: Roast guinea pig
The painting by Marcos Zapata dates from the 18th century. Guinea pig, called cuy, has been eaten in the Andes for thousands of years.
Q9: Which colorful striped peak, also called Vinicunca, is a popular day hike from Cusco?
Answer: Rainbow Mountain
The stripes come from minerals in the rock. The summit is about 5,000 meters high, so the hike is short but tiring.
Q10: Which valley near Cusco is dotted with Inca villages such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo?
Answer: The Sacred Valley
The Urubamba River runs through it. Trains to Machu Picchu leave from Ollantaytambo, a village still built on its Inca street plan.

Cusco Quiz – The Heart of the Inca Empire

Cusco is a city high in the Andes of southern Peru, at about 3,400 meters above sea level. It was the capital of the Inca Empire, the largest empire in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans, and is the oldest continuously inhabited city on the continent. Its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

The Incas built Cusco with remarkable stonework. Their walls, made of huge stones cut to fit together without mortar, have survived centuries of earthquakes. Qorikancha, the Temple of the Sun, was once covered in sheets of gold. On the hill above the city, the fortress of Sacsayhuamán has zigzag walls with stones weighing more than 100 tons.

In 1533, Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro arrived in Cusco. They melted down much of the gold and built churches, mansions and convents on Inca foundations. This blend of Inca and colonial Spanish architecture gives Cusco its unique look, visible around the Plaza de Armas, where the cathedral and the Jesuit church face each other.

Cusco is the gateway to some of the most famous sites in South America. The Sacred Valley, with Pisac and Ollantaytambo, lies nearby, and Machu Picchu can be reached by train or by hiking the Inca Trail. Rainbow Mountain, the circular terraces of Moray and the salt pans of Maras are popular day trips.

Quechua culture remains strong in Cusco. Many people speak Quechua, wear colorful woven clothing and keep Andean traditions alive. The Inti Raymi festival every June honors the sun. Markets like San Pedro sell fruit, potatoes and juices, and local dishes include cuy, alpaca and soups.

This quiz covers the history, temples, festivals and landscapes of Cusco.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for history fans, hikers and travelers to Peru.

What Cusco's name means and how high it is
Qorikancha and Sacsayhuamán
Inca stonework and the twelve-angled stone
The Inti Raymi festival
Cusco's art and Andean food
Rainbow Mountain and the Sacred Valley

Quick Facts About Cusco

Cusco was declared the historic capital of Peru in its constitution.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu takes about four days to hike.
The city's rainbow flag represents the Tawantinsuyu, not the Pride movement.
San Blas is a hilly neighborhood known for artists and workshops.
Cusco's cathedral took about a century to build.
Peru has thousands of potato varieties, many grown near Cusco.