Casa de Clorinda Matto de Turner, Colonial mansion in Plaza San Francisco, Cuzco, Peru.
Casa de Clorinda Matto de Turner is a colonial mansion facing Plaza San Francisco in Cusco, built in the 17th century and repeatedly modified, so it shows no single style. Its traditional patio is paved in stone, and the interior walls carry mural paintings recovered during the 1970s restoration by the Instituto Nacional de Cultura.
The building dates to the 17th century and was built on the site of former Inca terraces. It originally served as the residence of Bishop Fernando de Vera y Zúñiga before becoming the home of the Matto family.
The house bears the name of Clorinda Matto de Turner, the Cusco writer who lived here in the 19th century. Today the building houses EsSalud's Cusco departmental office and its Senior Center, so its rooms are used for health services and activities for older adults rather than as a literary museum.
The building functions as a health service office and includes a center for senior citizen activities. Access to certain areas may be limited since it serves as an active workplace rather than a museum.
During restoration work in the 1970s, workers uncovered traditional stone courtyards and historical wall paintings that had been hidden beneath later modifications. This discovery revealed important details of the original colonial design and construction.
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