The llaqta of Machupicchu represents a masterpiece of art, architecture, and engineering in perfect harmony with nature and is the most well-know legacy of the Inka civilization. It was abandoned during the second half of the sixteenth century; it was never lost, however, as it was occasionally visited and inhabited by local farmers. Some colonial documents refer to the Llaqta of Machupicchu as the “Settlement of the Inkas” or the “Old Village of the Inka Named Guaynapicchu”.
Official informative brochure:
https://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/informative-brochure/?lang=en