The famous ancient capital city of the Incas, Cusco is the oldest inhabited city in the Americas and one of the World Heritage Sites named by UNESCO. There are great tourist attractions in Cusco, built on the archaeological foundations of the ancient Inca city that became the basis of the Spanish architecture that can be seen today, and many of the stone walls that line the streets were built by the Incas.
Most visitors who come to Cusco aim to see Machu Picchu on tours, either by train or the Inca Trail, as well as to enjoy tours of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and other nearby Inca centers, but it is worth spending some time exploring the city to see many other attractions.
Most of the city’s attractions are located around the Plaza de Armas and the surrounding streets, where you will also find restaurants, hotels and service stores. Follow the streets uphill from the Plaza de Armas to the cobblestone streets of the beautiful San Blas neighborhood. In this picturesque neighborhood, you can find small artisan stores and restaurants of all categories.
1- the famous Inca walls.
Walking along the paths that line the narrow streets of Cusco is like walking through an open-air museum. These magnificent Inca walls are the foundation of modern Cusco, and although they are found in every corner of the city, some areas stand out among so many others.
The two best places to see the walls are Loreto and Hatunrumiyoc streets. The Inca walls are lined up on both sides of Loreto Street, which runs southeast from the Plaza de Armas. The south wall is Amarucancha, where the Palace of Huayna Capac is located, and on the north side is the wall of Acllahuasi, one of the oldest in Cusco.
Hatunrumiyoc is located on the northeast side of the Plaza de Armas, and is very famous for the 12-sided stone (12 angles) that is located along the east wall.
2- Santo Domingo and Coricancha.
The beautiful church of Santo Domingo is built on the foundations of the famous Inca site of qoricancha, also called the Temple of the Sun. Coricancha (Q’orikancha in Quechua) means “golden courtyard”. It is said that statues and gold ornaments decorated the interior and a large golden disk reflected the sun inside the hall. All this was extracted by the Spaniards shortly after their arrival in Cusco. Today, only the fine Inca stone of what was once the glorious Coricancha can be appreciated.
3- Sacsayhuaman.
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The fortified complex of Sacsayhuaman is the most important archaeological center of Cusco, and it is close enough to the historical center to be reached on foot. It is usually visited on a city tour and sometimes visitors stop to see it on their way to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Sacsayhuaman has a military and religious significance.
The impression caused by this archaeological center is due to the size of the stones with which it was built, and the complexity of the stonework (stone carving). Some of these stones are more than eight meters high and weigh 360 tons. Despite the size of these stones and their irregular shapes, they fit together very perfectly.
4- Inca Museum.
Named as the best museum in Cusco for those who want to learn more about the Incas, the Inka Museum is located in the ornate 16th century Spanish Admiral’s House, a place worth visiting on your own.
The house, which belonged to Admiral Francisco Aldrete Maldonado and was built on the magnificent Inca foundations, is one of Cusco’s most impressive colonial houses. The collections focus on the Inca culture, dating from the emergence of their culture until the Conquest.
The Inca museum exhibits ceramics, textiles, metallurgy and gold work, jewelry and mummies. The most interesting are the 450 carved and painted wooden vessels (queros), the largest collection in the world.
5- Church of the Society of Jesus.
The beautiful church called La Compañía de Jesús, usually called La Compañía, is a Jesuit church, it was rebuilt and finished in the late 1660s, after the earthquake of 1650.
The impressive and beautifully ornate baroque facade of La Compañía continues to rival the cathedral. It is particularly beautiful when illuminated at night and on Cusco’s city festivals. La Compañía is built on the foundations of the palace of Huayna Capac, the last ruler of the Inca Empire, today it features a magnificent gold altarpiece dotted with polychrome statues.
6 Plaza de Armas.
The Plaza de Armas has always been the heart of Cusco since the time of the Incas, when the square was called Huacaypata (Plaza de los llantos). The cathedral, on the northeast side of the Plaza de Armas, presents the magnificent beauty to the eyes of the world. On one side of the cathedral is the church of Jesús María and on the other the Triunfo.
On the southeast side of the Plaza de Armas is the church of La Compañía, which is easily confused with the cathedral because of its beautifully ornamented facade. However, it is smaller. The center of the square is a place to rest and admire the fountain in the center while observing the daily life of the Cusquenian people.
7- Cathedral.
Something very important to take into account is the construction of the cathedral of Cusco that began in 1559 and was finished in 1669. It is built on the foundations of the place where once stood the palace of the Inca Wiracocha. The three naves of the Renaissance style church are supported by 14 massive pillars. The main altar is made of solid silver, which according to information weighs 400 kilograms, and the choir stalls are carved in cedar.
You can find many tourist attractions in Cusco, known places as well as little known, but what is certain is that a trip to the imperial city is unforgettable.
