Plazoleta de San Blas, Heritage square in San Blas district, Cusco, Peru
Plazoleta de San Blas is a stone-paved square in the San Blas neighborhood, surrounded by traditional adobe buildings, art galleries, and craft shops with a central stone fountain at its heart. The space sits on a slope and connects through stone steps to nearby streets, creating natural access to restaurants, accommodations, and artisan workshops throughout the area.
This square was built over the former Inca neighborhood of T'oqokachi, which once held tombs of Inca rulers and a shrine to Illapa, a deity of storms and water. The pre-Hispanic layout and sacred sites beneath the current streets have shaped the development of this neighborhood over centuries.
Local artisans work and sell their creations directly in this space, while the adjacent church preserves an extraordinary wooden pulpit that was carved as a single piece. The presence of these craftspeople and their workshop areas reflects how this neighborhood continues to serve as a hub for traditional artistic practices.
The square sits on a slope with multiple levels accessed by stone steps, so wearing proper footwear is essential for comfortable movement around the area. Morning visits tend to be less crowded, giving you more room to explore the galleries and shops without feeling rushed.
One wall of the square features a paqcha, an ornamental water channel carved into stone that echoes the natural springs flowing through this area in pre-Columbian times. This ancient irrigation feature is rarely noticed by visitors but stands as a tangible link to Inca engineering and water management practices.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
