Cusco is one of the most important tourist destinations in Peru. Known as the navel of the world by the Incas, it is the true center of the Andean culture and the archaeological capital of America. Cusco is the gateway to the Andes and the amazing Machu Picchu, so most travelers that want to visit this archaeological wonder, spend several hours in Cusco, where they are surprised by the contrast between indigenous and western culture, their colors and lively streets that you will discover with this tour to Cusco in one day that we have created for all lovers of culture and history of this World Heritage city.
The Convent of Santo Domingo was built on Aboriginal Coricancha temple after the conquest of Pizarro. In this three-nave church, we see true Sevillian tiles. In 1551se convent founded in the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, the first college founded in America.
2. Qorikancha
It was the main Inca temple, the Temple of Inti (Sun Temple), so it is a true jewel of Inca architecture, built on granite blocks carved and molten gold in many of its rooms, which unfortunately were looted by the Spanish conquerors.
3. Church of the Society of Jesus
It is a Jesuit colonial temple built in 1.571. It is one of the most beautiful churches in Cusco because of its ornate facade. It has several underground chapels with secret passages in which some Spanish personalities were buried.
The Temple of Mercy of Cusco, is located just one block from the Plaza de Armas in the historic center of the Imperial City. The temple has a basilica with three naves, with magnificent baroque altars.
It is the main square of the city, and one of the most beautiful and best preserved squares made in Castilian style in the world. Noted for its stone archways on two levels, the work was developed with the arrival of the Spanish, who surrounded it with temples and mansions built over the ancient Inca palaces. Today, it is the core of modern Cusco, surrounded by tourist restaurants, jewelry stores, travel agencies and temples of the same period of the conquest.
6. Cathedral
The Cathedral of Cusco is the main temple of the city, it houses the headquarters of the Diocese of Cusco. The Basilica Cathedral of Cusco along with with the temples of Triumph and of the Holy Family are the Body of the Cathedral, it is located in the northeast sector of the Plaza de Armas.
7. Inka Museum
The Inka Museum contains a large number of objects that tell the history of Peru since pre-Columbian civilizations to the Inca culture and the impact of conquest on the native tribes. It has a large number of objects such as mummies, jewelry, pottery…
San Blas is a neighborhood of artisans that has beautiful squares and narrow streets where you can appreciate the colonial architecture and especially the church of San Blas, the oldest in the city. Also, if you wish, you can buy wonderful paintings and sculptures by popular Cusco’s artists.
It is undoubtedly the most visited street in Cusco. Its name means Major Rock Street because it was the palace of Inca Roca (Rock), currently, the Archbishop’s Palace. In this street that runs from the Plaza de Armas to the neighborhood of San Blas, you can see the famous stone of twelve angles, considered by many as the most representative figure of perfection achieved in Inca architecture.
The Fortress of Sacsayhuaman is a masterpiece with a unique architecture. It was built by the Incas in the past dynasties and it is located below the Temple of San Cristobal or Qolcampata in the highest part of the city. It is believed that it was a solar temple that also served as a defensive fortress, although it was the Spanish who gave it the name of Fortaleza (Fortress), due to the formidable of its buildings with large granite blocks to protect the city from attacks by the invaders from the east.
Tags: archeology, culture, cusco, cusco travel guide, history, machu picchu, peru
