Cusco Cathedral
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Why go
- The 365 paintings, mostly by local artists such as Marcos Zapata and Antonio Sinchi Roca.
- The Lord of the Earthquakes image, venerated here and carried in the annual procession.
- The high altar, covered with silver panels under a canopy, built in 1792–1803 by Villegas and Pinelo.
- Eleven altars with significant woodcarvings.
- One of the finest examples of colonial goldsmith work.
Opening hours
Today06:00 – 20:00Show all
Don't miss
- Carved choir stallsForty life-size saint figures carved in wood.Inside the cathedral, in the choir. On the map
- Painting of the 1650 earthquakeA 17th-century painting that shows all of Cusco during the 1650 earthquake.Inside the cathedral. On the map
- La Virgen del HalcónA painting by Bernardo Bitti.Inside the cathedral, in the Holy Trinity chapel. On the map
- Immaculate Virgin chapelPatron of the city since the 16th century.Inside the cathedral. On the map
- Twelve paintings by Diego Quispe TitoAn incomplete set of twelve paintings by Diego Quispe Tito, among the many colonial-era religious paintings.Inside the cathedral. On the map
Know before you go
- Open every day from 06:00 to 20:00.
- Photography is not allowed inside.
Interesting facts4
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It is the biggest church in Cusco.
Cuzco - Wikivoyage (see) -
The doors carry a carved jaguar head, a religious motif from ancient Peru.
Cusco Cathedral - Wikipedia -
The cathedral is also known as Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Cuzco - Wikipedia -
4000 square
The cathedral and its two side chapels form a complex of almost 4000 square metres.
Kathedrale von Cusco - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
The Spanish decided to tear down the Inca structure on the site and build a Christian cathedral there. Work on the present church began in 1559, with the backing of Viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza. To speed up the work, stones were taken from the Sacsayhuamán fortress. The 1650 earthquake led to a reshaped upper façade and the removal of the towers' third section.
- Inca periodThe site holds the palace of Viracocha Inca, the Kisoarkancha.
- 1539The Iglesia del Triunfo is built and becomes the first cathedral here.
- 1559Work starts on the present cathedral, backed by Viceroy Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza.
- 1570–1572Construction stops when Viceroy Francisco de Toledo comes to Cusco.
- 1650An earthquake reshapes the upper façade and removes the third section of the towers.
Show all
- 1654The cathedral is completed, and the first mass is held on 15 August.
- 1928Pius XI grants it the title of minor basilica.
- 1943Pius XII makes it the seat of the newly created archbishopric.
Sources: Cusco Cathedral - Wikipedia · Cuzco - Wikivoyage (see) · Kathedrale von Cusco - Wikipedia · Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Cuzco … · checked 18 Oct 2026
- Website
- plazadearmasperu.com/
Questions and answers
Is Cusco Cathedral the biggest church in Cusco?
Yes. It is the largest church in the city, and it stands on the Plaza de Armas.
What is the Iglesia del Triunfo next to Cusco Cathedral?
It is an earlier church from 1539 that served as the city's first cathedral. Today it is an auxiliary chapel of the cathedral.
Is Cusco Cathedral part of a UNESCO World Heritage site?
Yes. The historic centre of Cusco, where the cathedral stands, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983.
Which church stands beside Cusco Cathedral?
The Jesuit church stands beside it on the Plaza de Armas.
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