Plazoleta de las Nazarenas, Colonial square in central Cusco, Peru
Plazoleta de las Nazarenas is a colonial square in central Cusco, surrounded by historic buildings and cobblestone paths. It contains the Church of Las Nazarenas, several old mansions, and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art housed in the Casa Cabrera on its north side.
This square emerged after Spanish conquest, when conquistadors received nearby lands and established the Santa Clara convent there. The transformation marked the shift from an Inca capital to a Spanish administrative and religious center.
The plaza takes its name from the Nazarenes, reflecting the religious devotion that took root after Spanish conquest. Walking around it, you see how colonial structures were built directly over Inca foundations, creating a visual record of how two cultures merged in this space.
The square sits south of the Plaza de Armas and is easily reached on foot from there. The cobblestone paths can be slippery when wet, so wear comfortable shoes with good grip.
The square holds a monument to Bishop Manuel de Mollinedo y Angulo in its northern section and a bust of Peruvian inventor Pedro Ruiz Gallo in the south. These two memorials honor the influence of religious and scientific figures who shaped the city.
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