A “Living Inca Town” on the western edge of the Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, also called Ollanta, has narrow cobblestone streets that have been continuously inhabited since the 13th century. The town is dominated by two massive Inca ruins, including a fortress built to guard the valley and later used as a stronghold during Inca resistance against Hernando Pizarro. The site functioned as an agricultural, administrative, religious, and social centre, with terraces, a temple, and an urban area. Two sections stand out within the complex: Araqama Ayllu, the ceremonial zone with fountains and ritual spaces, and Qosqo Ayllu, the residential district where locals still live in Inca-era buildings. Ancient roads, aqueducts, walls, and towers reveal its strategic importance. Today, travellers often pause here on the way to the renowned Machu Picchu.