Aerial view of the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru June 18, 2026

Set high above Cusco in Peru, Sacsayhuamán reveals the ambition of the Inca Empire in stone. Built in the 15th century, this vast complex once formed part of the sacred capital of the Incas. From above, the layout becomes clear: terraces, open plazas and the remains of towers forming a carefully planned citadel. The largest walls, built from enormous blocks, still stand strong today. Some stones rise more than 8.2 metres tall and were fitted together so precisely—without mortar—that the structure has endured centuries of earthquakes.

© Creative-Family/Getty Images Plus

palette

Today in History

Jun 18, 2024Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Jun 18, 2025Asian swallowtail butterfly

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Aug 20, 2026An orca near the Chilkat Mountains, Lynn Canal, Alaska, USA
Jan 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Sep 25, 2024Giant sequoias, Sequoia National Park, California, USA
Dec 10, 2023Llyn Padarn lake, Snowdonia, Wales
Jun 19, 2025Beach in Santa Catarina, Brazil
Aug 15, 2026Infinity Bridge in Stockton-on-Tees, England
Aug 1, 2025Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland
Dec 24, 2025Starling murmuration, Brighton, England
Jan 9, 2025Sossusvlei sand dunes, Namib desert, Namibia
Sep 9, 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
May 3, 2025Arches National Park, Utah, United States
Feb 22, 2026Mam Tor, Derbyshire, England
Oct 7, 2026Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England
June 11, 2026Limpets at low tide on the coast of Praia da Ursa, Portugal
Dec 23, 2023Chinstrap penguins
Dec 9, 2023Guanacos, Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Oct 11, 2023The Painted Hills, Oregon, USA
Nov 7, 2025Polar bear in Canada
Jan 4, 2024Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
Oct 18, 2024Central Park, New York, United States
Sept 18, 2026Winnats Pass, Peak District National Park, England
Apr 11, 2025Tulips, Netherlands
Mar 31, 2026Paradise Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
Aug 27, 2025Sørvágsvatn lake, island of Vágar, Faroe Islands
Apr 29, 2025Garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
Aug 9, 2024Inca ruin of Sacsayhuamán near Cusco, Peru
Aug 25, 2024Glacier National Park, Montana
Jun 29, 2025Blue lagoon of Pulau Ay, Banda Islands, Indonesia
Dec 6, 2024Helsinki, Finland