Travel Guide Peru

The Cathedral dominates the north-east side of the Plaza de Armas and sits squarely on the foundations of the Inca Viracocha’s palace. The Cathedral was begun in 1550 and completed nearly 100 years later, constructed in the shape of a Latin cross. The three-aisled nave is supported by only fourteen massive pillars. It contains nearly 400 colonial paintings including the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata showing Christ and the Apostles about to dine on guinea-pig, washed down with a glass of chicha! In the sacristy there’s a painting of the crucifixion attributed to Van Dyke. Ten smaller chapels surround the nave, with the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, and the Chapel of El Señor de los Temblores (The Lord of Earthquakes) are worthy of special attention.

The Cathedral’s real magic lies in the mingling of history and legend. It is said that when the Cathedral was built an Inca prince was walled up in one of the towers and that when the tower falls the Inca will emerge to claim his birthright and free his people. After the earthquake of 1950 thousands of believers waited hopefully for the tower to collapse, but despite severe damage, they did not and were later repaired.

Cuzco Plaza de Armas, Cuzco, PeruThe Plaza de Armas (main square) was the centre of Inca Cusco and, still today, remains at the heart of modern Cusco. During Inca times the Plaza was known as Huacaypata (the Place of Tears or the Weeping Square) and was a place of ceremonies and military parades. It has been said that when the Inca’s conquered new lands they would bring back some of the soil to be mixed with the soil of Huacaypata, as a symbolic gesture to incorporate the newly gained territories into the Inca empire.

The Plaza was once flanked with Inca palaces. The remains of the ancient walls of Inca Pachacutec’s palace can still be seen on the north-west side of the square (inside the Roma Restaurant close to the corner of the Plaza and Calle Plateros.

The northern and western sides of the Plaza are now lined by arcades with shops and travel agencies. There are many restaurants, bars and coffee shops with beautifully carved wooden balconies overlooking the Plaza - a great place to relax and enjoy the view.

The Plaza’s north-eastern edge is dominated by the Cathedral which is flanked on the right-hand side by the El Triunfo church.

On the south-east side is the smaller but more ornate church of La Compania de Jesus with its impressive pair of belfries.

Admission to many of the most popular places of interest in Cusco can only be made using a ‘Tourist Ticket’ (Boleto Turistico). This ticket allows you entrance to many sites in and around Cusco and costs US$20 (US10 for students with an ISIC card). The ticket is valid for 10 days and can be bought at the OFEC office at Garcilaso on Plaza Regocijo (Mon-Fri 8am-6.30pm , Sat 8am-2pm) or at any of the sites included on the ticket below.

Places included on the tourist ticket are:

Santa Catalina Convent and Art Museum, Museo de Historia Regional (Casa Inca Garcilazo de la Vega), Museo Palacio Municipal de Arte Contemporaneo, the Museo Arqueologico Koricancha (but not Koricancha itself), Museo de Arte Popular, Centro Qosqo de Arte Nativo, Monumento Pachacutec

Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara.

Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero. These sites are normally visited as part of the Sacred Valley day tour.

Urcos: Pikillacta (the only major pre-Inca ruin in the Cusco area) and Tipon (mainly Inca terracing).

Entrance tickets to the Cathedral (US$3), Koricancha / Qoricancha /Temple of the Sun (US$1.80), San Blas church, the Inka Museum (US$3), Museo de Arte Precolombino (US$4.60), Museo de Arte Religioso del Arzobispado (US$3) and La Merced (US$0.90) are sold separately.

During daytime or night time, Cusco is a city full of charms and attractions.
The mornings are ideal to walk by the streets, to know the churches, to pass by the legendary artisan neighborhood San Blas or to visit the towns and the archaeological remains in the surroundings. At night, when the city is covered with lights, the discotheques, pubs and restaurants are the greatest attractions. Nightlife in Cusco offers a great variety of fun choices satisfying the most demanding tastes.

If you visit Cusco, it is compulsory to know the following places: the Koricancha (The Sun Temple), the Ajlla Wasi, the Churches and Convents, the Archaeological Remains, mainly Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán and Ollantaytambo.

CUSCO MAIN SQUARE

During the time of the Incas it was called Huacaypata or Square of the Warrior. It was the setting of various crucial events throughout the history of Cusco. Every year, people celebrated in this place the Inti Raymi or Sun Festivity; and this was also the place in where Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco. With the Spaniards arrival, the square was surrounded by stone arches that even today embellish it. (Centre of the city).

Cradle of legendary feats, the Main Square of Cusco was called “HuacaYpata” or “Square of the Warrior” during the time of the Incas. It reminds us of times when it was a significant ceremonial place where, every year, they carried out the spectacular celebration of Inti Raymi or “Sun Festivity”. It was the place where Francisco Pizarro, together with his Spanish entourage, proclaimed the conquest of Cusco, or the setting in where the Indigenous caudillo Tupac Amaru was executed.

The square was transformed with the Spaniards arrival. The stone arches, as well as the constructions that even today surround the square, were built during that period. It is surrounded by a beautiful arcade that was constructed during the conquest. In this place are also located the churches of the Cathedral and the Society of Jesus, which make up a real tourist temptation.

Having Fun in Lima

Lima is a city that has much to offer in the way of entertainment, as it is a confluence of the latest rends and the most traditional aspects of local culture. Walking around it, one can always find somewhere that is open late and has an attractive rustic air, or alternatively is loud and eclectic.

After an enjoyable night, a visitor’s firts point of reference is the so-called Pizza Street in Miraflores, a meeting place for the young and not-so-young. Another good alternative is the neighbourhood of San Isidro, which has places that are much more modern and contemporary.

However, if a bohemian atmosphere is what you are looking for, then Barranco is the place to go. This district is famous for its interesting cultural attractions, including art galleries, cinemas and alternative theatres. It also has nightclubs to suit all tastes, including “peñas”, smalls clubs dedicated to Peruvian music and rhythms.

And speaking of traditional neighbourhoods, none is more representative than Lima Cercado, which contains some of the oldest and most interesting bars in the city. For example, the Taberna Queirolo, in Calle Quilca, or the famous Bar Cordano, opposite Desamparados station.

For visitors who like live music, Lima has a large number of places where you can appreciate just about all musical styles. In any of the popular “salsodromos” -as salsa clubs are known locally - the orchestra will tempt the most reluctant onto the dance floor. Places such as Brisas del Titicaca hold folk music shows where the rhythms and colours will surprise the most phlegmatic audience. And for those seeking other options, Lima’s rock, punk and jazz concerts will not disappoint them.

Not only is there a wide choice of music, the city also has many other forms of culture to enjoy. The large number of theatres and cinemas cover the complete range of genera at many different times of the day. In addition there are museums and art institutions which are always holding exhibitions and multi-discipline events of great interest. The galleries of the Cultural Centre of the Catolic University, in San Isidro, as well as those of the Municipality of Miraflores often have attractive exhibitions, as do the Museum of Art in Lima and the Museo de la Nacion in San Borja.

The city is also a small paradise for gaming enthusiasts, who will find a growing number of casinos and slot arcades in which to chance their luck.