Cusco Cathedral & Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas is the heart of Cusco, as it was in Inca times, when a far larger square called Huacaypata stood here, surrounded by palaces. Today it is framed by arcades, wooden balconies and two great churches, and dominated by the Basilica Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, built over more than a century from the mid-1500s on the site of the palace of the Inca Viracocha, partly with stone taken from Sacsayhuaman. The cathedral complex is really three churches joined together: the Cathedral itself, the earlier church of El Triunfo, the first Christian church in Cusco, and the church of the Sagrada Familia. Inside is one of the richest collections of colonial art in South America, largely by the Cusco School, the Andean painters who blended European models with local faces, flora and symbols. The most famous canvas, attributed to Marcos Zapata, shows the Last Supper with a roasted guinea pig, cuy, at the center of the table, and the Andean-style Christ known as the Lord of the Earthquakes, the Señor de los Temblores, has been the city's protector since the earthquake of 1650 and is carried through the streets in procession on Holy Monday. There are carved cedar choir stalls, silver altars and side chapels at every turn, and an enormous bell, the Maria Angola, in one of the towers. The Tiqets ticket linked here is an entry ticket for the Cathedral, El Triunfo and the Sagrada Familia, with access to the bell tower not included; the complex is generally open from mid-morning to early evening. Photography inside is not permitted, and opening hours change on religious holidays. On Sunday 15 November 2026, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to lead the Angelus at the Cathedral square, so expect the plaza to be closed off and packed that morning.

How to visit: allow at least an hour inside and take the audio guide or a licensed guide, because the cathedral is vast and dimly lit, and the best paintings are easy to miss without someone pointing them out. Highlights include the Last Supper, the Señor de los Temblores, the choir stalls, the silver main altar and the paintings of the Cusco School in the side chapels. Dress modestly and keep your voice down, as services are held regularly. Combine the visit with the church of La Compania de Jesus across the plaza, a Jesuit rival with a spectacular facade that is lit up at night, and with a walk along Hatun Rumiyoc street, a few blocks away, to see the famous twelve-angled stone in the Inca wall of the Archbishop's Palace.

The Plaza de Armas itself is free and full of life from morning to late night. Sit on a balcony cafe or on the cathedral steps and watch processions, school parades, families and street vendors. Expect polite but persistent offers of massages, paintings, tours and photos with women in traditional dress and their llamas, who expect a tip for photographs. Keep an eye on your belongings in crowds, and use registered taxis at night. The square is the stage for the city's biggest festivals: Corpus Christi, the run-up to Inti Raymi in June, Holy Week, and the Christmas market of Santurantikuy on 24 December.

Practicalities: the cathedral sits at about 3,400 meters, and the plaza is flat, so it is an ideal gentle visit for your first afternoon in Cusco, before tackling the hills. In the rainy season, which begins in November, mornings are usually brighter, and the churches make good refuges during afternoon storms. The Boleto Turistico does not cover the cathedral; you need a separate ticket, from the door or online through the Tiqets product linked here.