Palacio del Cabildo del Cusco, Colonial administrative building in Cusco, Peru.
Palacio del Cabildo del Cusco is a neoclassical administrative building standing on the Plaza Regocijo with a commanding facade facing the historic square. The structure now houses the mayor's office, a conference center, and the Contemporary Art Museum, which opened in 1995.
The palace was built in 1848 under architect Emilio Harth Terré and served as the municipal government headquarters during the colonial period. The site itself had previously held an administrative center from the 1560s where early Spanish governing meetings took place.
The building blends architectural styles from a demolished Augustinian convent into its neoclassical form, creating a visual record of how colonial construction practices overlapped. Visitors walking through the Plaza Regocijo can see how different building traditions came together in one structure.
The palace sits directly on the Plaza Regocijo in central Cusco, making it easy to find and visit while exploring the old city center. Visitors can view the exterior freely and may access interior spaces depending on current exhibitions or official functions.
The palace occupies a location that has been an administrative seat since the 1560s, making it one of the oldest continuous government centers in the city. This long history of governance on the same spot creates a direct link between early Spanish rule and modern municipal life.
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