Like all central plazas in Peruvian cities, Cuzco's Plaza de Armas is expansive and beautifully adorned. As the city's focal point, it features stunning flower-lined lawns where you can enjoy an ice cream on a bench, for example. At the center of Cuzco's Plaza de Armas stands an elegant fountain, crowned by a column topped with a magnificent golden sculpture of an Inca ruler.

The Plaza de Armas of Cuzco

Cuzco's Plaza de Armas is the heart of the Inca empire, the legendary navel of the world of Tahuantinsuyo! It is an unmissable destination when you visit Cuzco during your journey through Pérou. Several churches and a cathedral stand directly adjacent to the plaza, as the Spanish were determined to suppress Inca culture and impose their faith.

Among the most representative buildings around the plaza are the Qorikancha, the cathedral, the Church of Santo Domingo, the Church of La Compania de Jesus, and several museums. The plaza is surrounded by colonial edifices and arcades, beneath which it is delightful to stroll.

Visiting Cuzco's Plaza de Armas Cathedral

Cuzco's cathedral was constructed beginning in 1559, and the project took over a century to complete. The Spanish imposed their culture by building it atop the Palace of Viracocha and using stones from the Sacsayhuaman fortress located a few kilometers away.

Cuzco's cathedral is truly magnificent, particularly its interior where you can observe numerous paintings from the Cuzco School and many religious objects crafted in gold and silver.

Address: Plaza de Armas
Price: 25 soles or included in the boleto religioso
Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Visiting the Church of La Compania de Jesus

This religious building was constructed atop the ruins of the Palace of Huayna Capac, the last emperor of the Inca empire. The church was built by the Jesuits beginning in 1571, then reconstructed in 1650 after being destroyed by an earthquake.

This baroque church is truly magnificent and deserves careful attention, as historically it was even at the center of a conflict with the Vatican, which opposed the Jesuit church being more beautiful than the cathedral.

Address: Plaza de Armas
Price: 10 soles or included in the boleto religioso
Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Museums in Cuzco's historic center

There are several museums on Cuzco's Plaza de Armas worth visiting, such as the natural history museum. It costs only 2 soles and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The chocolate museum is a genuinely fascinating small museum in one of the world's finest cacao-producing countries. Founded by English-speaking curators, entrance is free, so why not take advantage!

The pre-Columbian art museum on the Plaza de las Nazarenas costs 20 soles. It houses an impressive collection of artworks from several Peruvian civilizations.

The Inca Museum is the city's finest museum for understanding Inca culture and history. You can observe objects in gold and silver, textiles, weapons, and artworks. The Inca Museum is located on Calle Tucuman and costs only 10 soles.

It is possible to visit many other museums just steps away, which we discuss in detail in our article about Cuzco's museums.

Discovering Qorikancha and the Church of Santo Domingo

The Church of Santo Domingo and the Qorikancha stand adjacent to one another and are essential sites to visit, as they showcase remarkable heritage in painting and architecture. This location was likely the wealthiest site in the entire Inca empire, with walls adorned in gold, life-sized gold and silver animal sculptures decorating the space.

If there were only one monument to visit in Cuzco, this would be it!

Address: Plazoleta Santo Domingo
Price: 10 soles or included in the boleto religioso.
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday