Plaza San Francisco, Cusco, Colonial square in central Cusco, Peru
Plaza San Francisco is a public square in the historic centre of Cusco. Its south side holds the Iglesia de San Francisco, still an active church with a convent and museum, and the Colegio Ciencias, set on a raised terrace. Beside the school stands the Arco de Santa Clara, ordered by President Agustín Gamarra. The west side has a casona with a box balcony, and the north and east sides are lined with republican houses of stone foundations and stuccoed adobe walls.
Spanish colonists created this square in the 1500s as they reorganized the original city after their arrival. The church and surrounding buildings were built as part of this colonial reshaping, replacing older structures.
The church and its surroundings show how important this place was for local religious life over many centuries. Today visitors can see in the preserved spaces how faith shaped daily life here.
The square is easily reached on foot from the main plaza and can be reached in a few minutes by walking down nearby streets. Visitors should note that the church has specific opening hours and some interior areas may have limited accessibility.
On the corner with Calle Granada stands the Casa de Clorinda Matto de Turner, named after the Cusco-born writer and author of "Aves sin nido". The republican house now houses EsSalud's Cusco departmental management and a Centre for Older Adults, so it is a working office rather than a museum.
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