• Cusco Cathedral - Home to countless architectural relics and historical sights, the city of Cusco is teeming with attractions that offer visitors a glimpse into its rich history. Cusco’s main square, the Plaza de Armas, is the heart of it all, in both location and significance. The “square of the warrior” in the Inca era, Cusco’s Plaza de Armas has been the setting for many of the city’s most important events, and today remains the home to three of the city’s most significant churches: the Cusco Cathedral, Iglesia del Triunfo, and the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus. Here’s a little background on these noteworthy churches in Cusco’s main square, and what visitors can expect to see upon visiting them.
  The Church of Triumph (Iglesia del Triunfo) was the first of the churches to be built upon Cusco’s main square, with construction beginning in 1536, just three years after the Spanish conquistadores arrived in Cusco. The Jesuits built the church over Suntur Wasi, an Inca ceremonial building, armoury and heraldry center attached to the palace of Viracocha. It is the first Christian Church to have been built in all of Cusco.

The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin (also known as Cusco Cathedral) was the second Church that the Jesuits began building in Cusco’s main square, yet it was the last to be completed. Construction of the Cusco Cathedral began in 1559, and was completed almost one hundred years later in 1654.

Like the Church of Triumph, the Cusco Cathedral was built upon the foundations of a sacred Inca site (a theme that would continue). Designed in the shape of a Latin cross, the location was chosen atop the foundations of kiswarkancha, with the purpose of removing the Inca religion from Cusco and subsequently replacing it with Spanish Catholic Christianity. Formerly, kiswarkancha acted as the Inca palace of Viracocha, the ruler of the kingdom of Cusco almost a full century before the Spanish conquistadores arrived.

Because most of Cusco’s population was still of Quechua Inca descent at the time of construction, the Spaniards used Inca labor to build the cathedral.

• Transport included
• Bi-lingual guide (English & Spanish) available

• Entrane to Qorikancha: 15 Soles
• Entrance to sites: 70 Soles for 2 Days or 130 Soles for 10 Days