Calle Plateros, UNESCO Heritage street in central Cusco, Peru.
Calle Plateros is a stone-paved street in central Cusco that runs from Calle Siete Cuartones to Plaza de Armas, lined with colonial buildings on both sides. The street spans roughly 195 meters and contains shops and restaurants that give it its everyday character.
The street was built in the 1920s over the channeled Saphy River, marking Cusco's shift from Inca planning to Spanish colonial development. This transformation shows how new European street layouts were constructed above ancient Inca waterways.
The name Plateros comes from the silversmiths who set up their workshops here during colonial times and created a tradition of metalwork. Today visitors can still find shops selling handmade silver goods and other local crafts along the street.
The street sits at the heart of Cusco's historic center and offers easy access to Plaza de Armas and major shopping areas. When exploring, visitors should note that the stone surface can be uneven in places.
Beneath the street runs an underground channel of the ancient Saphy River, which once marked the boundary of Inca royal palaces. This hidden water reveals how Spanish conquerors layered their infrastructure over the previous Inca civilization.
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