Cusco Cathedral Church

Address: Cusco Cathedral (Catedral del Cusco), Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru

Cusco Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, is the principal Catholic church on the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. Its construction began in the mid-16th century and it functions as both an active cathedral and a museum of colonial religious art.

A heavy stone exterior opening into richly decorated interiors with gilded altars, carved choir stalls and extensive religious silverwork. The cathedral displays a large collection of paintings from the Cuzco School, including regional variations on biblical subjects.

Guided visits and the on-site museum allow close inspection of altarpieces, colonial-era liturgical objects and notable paintings; the building is also used for religious ceremonies. Photography rules and modest dress are generally requested inside the sacred spaces.

Built on the foundations of Inca palaces after the Spanish conquest, the cathedral was erected by colonial authorities and craftsmen across the late 16th and 17th centuries, incorporating materials and labour from local populations. Over time it became a repository for ecclesiastical art and a focal point for Catholic ritual in Cusco.

Sitting on the north side of the Plaza de Armas in central Cusco, the cathedral is at the core of the city’s historic district and is within walking distance of other Inca and colonial sites.

• Construction period: Construction began in the mid-16th century and spanned several decades, resulting in a mix of Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic elements in the building.
• Colonial art collection: Houses important works of the Cuzco School of painting, including local depictions of biblical scenes with Andean elements.

What to See#

• Main nave and high altar: The cathedral’s principal nave and high altar, featuring heavy silverwork and carved wooden retablos dating to the colonial period.
• Cathedral museum: An on-site museum that displays religious paintings, silver objects and liturgical pieces from the Cusco colonial era.

Cusco Cathedral sits on the Plaza de Armas in the heart of Cusco and is reached on foot from anywhere in the historic center within a few minutes. It’s about 4 km (10-15 minutes by car or taxi) from Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport.

Taxis and local minibuses serve the historic center; once in the Plaza de Armas the cathedral is immediately adjacent to the square.

• Visit the cathedral first thing after opening to avoid the biggest crowds and have time to study the colonial altarpieces and the famed Last Supper painting that features a guinea pig.
• Buy the Cusco Tourist Ticket (Boleto Turístico) or check admission options in advance - the ticket bundles several sites and can speed entry and reduce separate‑purchase lines.
• Don't rush: hire a guide or use an audio guide to understand the collection of silverwork and side‑chapels; many visitors only glimpse the main nave and miss the richly decorated chapels and sacristy.