Abancay

- 13.633888888889 - 72.881388888889Koordinaten: 13 ° 38 ' S, 72 ° 53 ' W

Abancay is the capital of the province of Apurimac and Abancay region in south-central Peru. It has 53.083 inhabitants (2005) and since 1958 the Roman Catholic bishop's seat. The city is located 2,377 meters above sea level in the Andes on the east bank of the Río Marino in a tributary of the Río Apurimac. It lies at the southern foot of the snow-capped summit Ampay, halfway on the road from Nazca to Cuzco.

In Abancay sugar cane is grown and processed. Furthermore spirits are produced in the city, which is also a small mining center.

Abancay already existed in pre-colonial times and takes its name from a native to the area, the white lily -like flower that was named in the Quechua Indian language Amankay. After their arrival in South America, the Spanish transliterated this word and named the place Abancay, Villa de los Reyes ( ie Abancay, City of the Kings ). In the colonial era Abancay was an important trading center. 1874, the village was raised to the status of a city.

A nationally known personality is the freedom fighter Micaela Bastidas, wife of José Gabriel Condorcanqui ( called Tupac Amaru II), who was born four kilometers north of the city.