Huancavelica, also known in Quechua as Wankawillka, is a city in Peru and the capital of the department of Huancavelica. According to the 2017 census, it had a population of 49,570 people, with indigenous peoples representing a major percentage of the population.
The city was established on August 5, 1572, by the Viceroy of Peru, Francisco de Toledo. It sits at an approximate altitude of 3,676 metres (12,060 ft). Its climate is cold and dry between February and August, with a rainy season between September and January.
Huancavelica is considered one of the poorest cities in Peru.