Church of the Society of Jesus, Place of worship in Cusco, Peru
The Church of the Society of Jesus is a stone place of worship on the edge of the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru. It has two tall bell towers flanking a carved stone facade, making it one of the most visible buildings on the square.
The Jesuits began building the church around 1578 on the site of Amarucancha, a palace that had belonged to the Inca ruler Huayna Capac. After a major earthquake in 1650 damaged the original structure, it was rebuilt on a larger scale and completed in 1673.
The church holds paintings from the Cusco School, including one that depicts the wedding of an Inca princess and a Spanish officer. These works show how local artists brought together two very different worlds in a single image.
The church sits directly on the Plaza de Armas and is easy to reach on foot from anywhere in the city center. Photography is not allowed inside, so plan to simply look and take your time with the details.
Visitors can climb the bell towers to look out over the Plaza de Armas, which few people know about. The route also passes through the choir balcony, offering a different view of the interior from above.
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