El Centro de Cuzco

Cuzco

El Centro de Cuzco

Like most colonial cities the heart of the city is the central plaza. In this case however, the square dates from Inca times. The plaza is surrounded by shops and restaurants, some of which overlook the square from second floor balconies. There is is the requisite fountain in the middle and people milling about day and night.

The pictures I took around the plaza were among the couple of rolls of film that got ruined (see my other disclaimer here) but I did salvage this shot of the church on the square (although this is the Compania - the Jesuit Church - and not the main cathedral).

Click here for books and guides for Cuzco and Peru

Santo Domingo (8KB)

This is the Santo Domingo church (or monastery) a few blocks off the main square. Notice the different colored stones upon which it sits. It was built onto the foundation of the Inca Temple of the Sun that was destroyed by the Spanish.

Here are another couple of pictures that demonstrate one of the things that you will see a lot of in Cuzco - the contrast between the fine Inca stonework and the more 'modern' building techniques. Look at the picture on the left. The church is of colonial construction while the building adjacent to it is built onto the original Inca construction. Notice the big difference in the quality of the facade. The picture on the right is another structure that has been adapted for use from the original Inca building. The stonework in the walls is original although the lintel has been adorned. You can't see it clearly at this resolution but there is a repeated pattern of snakes in the Inca stones.

Postcard Kid (15KB)

Just off the main square... the back of the building you see at the end of this alley is the church in the picture at the top of the page. Had a nice chat with this kid who was selling postcards. This is the group of trekker who converged in Lima for the trip. From the left: Yugi, Josh, (the postcard kid), Cindy, Rupa & Rina.

The Trek to Machu Picchu

Cuzco