Cuzco Attractions

The Plaza de Armas or Plaza Mayor was known in Inca times as Huacaypata, or the Warriors Square, this was the scene of many key events in the history of Cuzco. Today it is the bustling center of the city with many of the key services, hotels and restaurants of the city located here. It also hosts some of the key attractions in the city such as two cathedrals and some impressive Inca stonework. It is a very wide plaza with Spanish arches running around most of the sides; this is always busy with people during the high tourist season. For better or worse there is now a popular McDonald’s restaurant on the square with a Starbucks coffee shop on the way; Peru for Less would like to recommend the fine selection of Cusco restaurants as an alternative to opting for these home comforts.

On the Plaza de Armas is the impressive Cathedral, which was planted on top of the foundations of the palace of Inca Viracocha in 1560 – the first Spanish church in the city. The attraction of this building is the myths and legends that surround it – it has a mysterious history linked to the subjugation of the Inca Empire to the Spanish Conquistadores and the imposition of the Catholic religion on peoples in the city. The interior is adorned with cedar wood pews, an elegant altar carved from granite and a high-altar crafted from embossed silver. There are also various paintings from the famous Cusqueña School style and an imposing mural depicting the destruction wreaked by the 1650 earthquake amongst various other atmospheric wall paintings. 

Qoricancha or the “Temple of Inti” (who was the Inca supreme god of the sun) was the most significant temple in Inca Cuzco and is a masterpiece of Inca architecture - perhaps the highest quality example in the city. The temple is built in blocks of carved granite with smelted gold in the junctures of the blocks. These are so exquisitely finished that it is near impossible to find any blemish in the surface of the walls and the joins between blocks. The location of the temple is also important – it is believed to be in the centre of a network of spiritual power lines that connect huacas (objects of religious importance) in the area.

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the temple was decorated in lavish gold and silver, of religious importance to the Incas. Beneath the inside of the temple an artificial garden in which trees, birds, animals amidst various tiny details right down to insects were delicately and intricately crafted in silver and gold. The temple was also surrounded with a gold cornice and all the walls were covered in gold plates. Many of these outstanding examples of the mastery of Inca gold- and silver-smithery did not last the onslaught of the wealth-hungry Spanish conquistadores. Nevertheless, the temple stands as a reminder of this remarkable empire and its dedication to religion.

The 17th century Convento de Santa church that rises from the original temple blocks is also the quintessential example of how the Spanish conquistadores aimed to impose their religion on the Inca population. The importance of this most sacred of Inca buildings was recognized by the Spanish clergy who were aiming to convert indigenous peoples to Catholicism. In an attempt to show the superiority of their European God over Inca gods they constructed a towering church to stand high above the temple, and thus symbolically displayed that God was higher than any Andean deity. This fascinating history makes the temple an essential part of any Cuzco vacation as it symbolizes the fusion of religion that occurred after the conquest.

Sacsayhuaman, to the north of Cuzco, is another imposing example of Inca architecture. The ceremonial center was for years thought to be a military fortress built to safeguard the city from possible attacks by the Antis, an invading force from the East. After careful inspection of the layout, however, it is now believed to be a sanctuary and temple to the Sun, which actually rises opposite where the Inca’s throne was once located. After Inca priests were excavated from the site in 1982, the hypothesis that the venue was a ceremonial location was strengthened further. The exact function of the site will probably continue to be disputed, but what is heavily admired is the architecture of Sacsayhuaman. The slabs used to build the center interlock together so perfectly that it is impossible to fit a piece of paper in between any two blocks, despite the fact they are a variety of various shapes and sizes.

A little way further outside of Cuzco on the route to Pisaq in the Sacred Valley is Tambomachay, which is said to be a the sacred bathing spring of Inca rulers and their royal women, although its exact purpose is under question: other theories pose that it was a resting place for the Inca, a hunting ground, or the site of a water cult. The site consists of a number of fountains and large ceremonial stone bath known as the Bath of the Inca.

Puka Pukara is just opposite Tambomachay and is composed of several chambers which are supposed by many to have functioned as a hunting lodge or guard post to the sacred valley. This is nicknamed the red fortress due to the fact that it is built of stones that emanate a pink tinge. The complex contains agricultural terraces, stairways, tunnels and watchtowers.

The temple of Qenqo meaning 'zigzag' appears to have functioned as an amphitheater. The temple gets its name from the number of channels that criss-cross the stone work. These channels probably carried either sacrificial Chicha or blood for the purpose of appeasing the gods and divination.

Although it is not a large city, a few notable districts of Cuzco are of specific interest to travelers. In particular, the San Blas district of Cuzco is also worth a visit. Creeping up onto the hill overlooking the city, this part of town boasts some of the best views of Cuzco that are framed by narrow white streets topped by red terracotta tiles. Every corner of San Blas is filled with intrigue – the maze of winding alleyways traverse past sun kissed plazas, cozy churches, coffee shops, galleries and restaurants. The district has acquired something of a bohemian reputation, with many of the trendier hang outs in the city being found here. An afternoon or evening in San Blas is highly recommended; visitors can expect to plunge into a diverse mix of Andean and modern artistic culture.