Cusco Cathedral, Minor basilica in Plaza de Armas, Peru
Cusco Cathedral is a Baroque church in the city center with three naves and a rectangular plan. The structure features fourteen cruciform pillars and displays a imposing stone façade dominating the main plaza.
Construction began in 1560 at the site of a former Inca palace and finished in 1654. Builders transported large stone blocks from the Sacsayhuaman fortress to create the cathedral's walls.
The interior displays artworks from the Cusco School, blending European religious themes with Andean imagery in paintings and sculptures throughout its chapels. This fusion shapes the appearance of every corner and altar space.
Entry is through the Iglesia del Triunfo on the right side of the main façade, which opens daily for visits. Wear comfortable shoes as you explore the interior with its multiple levels and stepping between different sections.
The bell tower holds Maria Angola, a massive bell whose deep sound carries across the region. The ringing of this bell remains one of the most recognizable sounds heard throughout the valley for centuries.
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