⛪ Cusco Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin)
Peru
About This Sacred Site
The Cusco Cathedral, dominating the Plaza de Armas, is one of the finest examples of colonial religious architecture in the Americas. Built between 1559 and 1654 on the foundations of the Inca palace of Viracocha, it deliberately symbolized the triumph of Christianity over the Inca religion. The interior houses an extraordinary collection of Cusco School paintings, including a famous Last Supper depicting Jesus and the apostles eating cuy (guinea pig). The cathedral contains over 400 colonial paintings, elaborate gold and silver altars, and the venerated crucifix known as the Lord of the Earthquakes.
Key Facts
- •Built on the foundations of the Inca palace of Viracocha using stones from Sacsayhuamán
- •Contains a famous Last Supper painting showing Jesus eating guinea pig (cuy)
- •Houses the Lord of the Earthquakes crucifix, Cusco's most venerated image
- •Over 400 paintings of the Cusco School of art are displayed inside
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the City of Cusco (since 1983)
Location
Coordinates: -13.5162, -71.9781
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