Three Historical Places in Cusco You Can't Miss: Sacsayhuamán, Qoricancha & Cathedral

1. Sacsayhuamán: The Inca Ceremonial Fortress

Sacsayhuamán — meaning "satisfied falcon" in Quechua — is one of the most impressive Inca constructions in the world, located just 2 km from Cusco's Plaza de Armas. Although often called a fortress, its true purpose was ceremonial and religious. It is famous for its cyclopean walls, where stones weighing over 100 tons fit together perfectly without mortar. The strategic zigzag design of the walls represents the connection between the earth and the gods, and the site offers a panoramic view of the entire city.

Fascinating facts about Sacsayhuamán

• Its construction took over 50 years and required the labor of an estimated 20,000 workers.
• Every June 24th, the site hosts Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun — the most important ceremony in the Andean calendar.
• Access is included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico), which also gives you entry to several other archaeological sites nearby.

2. Qoricancha: The Golden Temple of the Sun

Qoricancha (also spelled Coricancha) was the most sacred temple of the Inca Empire, dedicated to Inti, the Sun god. After the Spanish conquest, the Convent of Santo Domingo was built directly on top of its foundations, creating a striking architectural fusion visible to this day.

Its most impressive features include:

• Gold-clad walls: according to Spanish chronicles, the interior walls were covered in sheets of solid gold.
• Sacred gardens: life-sized statues of animals and plants sculpted in gold and silver once decorated the temple.
• Astronomical alignment: the windows were precisely positioned to capture the light during solstices and equinoxes.

Why visit Qoricancha?

Qoricancha is a symbol of Inca cultural resistance and one of the clearest examples of religious syncretism in the Americas — an Inca temple fused with a colonial church. Inside you will also find paintings and religious art from the 16th-century Cusco School, an artistic movement that blended European and indigenous techniques.

3. Cusco Cathedral: A Masterpiece of Andean Baroque

The Cusco Cathedral, located on the Plaza de Armas, is one of the most important religious monuments in South America. Its construction began in 1560 using stones taken from Sacsayhuamán, and its interior holds true artistic treasures of the Andean Baroque style. Highlights include:

• "The Last Supper" by Marcos Zapata: a famous Andean reinterpretation where the main dish on the table is a cuy (Andean guinea pig).
• Main altarpiece: carved in cedar wood and covered in gold leaf.
• Cusco School painting collection: religious art with strong indigenous influences.

Fascinating facts about the Cathedral

• Stones from Sacsayhuamán were reused for its construction — a physical symbol of the Spanish colonization.
• Inside rests "El Señor de los Temblores" (The Lord of the Earthquakes), the patron saint of Cusco, credited with stopping the 1650 earthquake.
• The Cathedral complex is actually formed by three connected temples: the main Cathedral, the Church of Triumph, and the Church of Jesús María.