Editor Pick
Cusco Cathedral
- January 7, 2007
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Shady Ady from Hinckley, United Kingdom
Cusco Cathedral is the focal point of Plaza de Armas, and once inside you’re surrounded by a magnitude of wealth and beauty. The baroque-style cathedral is built on the foundations of the palace of the Inca Wirachocha. Started in 1539 it wasn’t declared finished until 1664. Its Renaissance style design, constituted by a Latin-cross base, contains the best colonial goldsmith and woodcarving supposedly in the whole of Peru, as well as a valuable collection of paintings from the Escuela Cusqueña. Many of its stone blocks were brought from the neighbouring fortress of Sacsayhuaman.
Once inside, the first thing that struck me was the richness of alters and chapels. The main altar is made of silver and it represents the introduction of the neoclassic style into the city. Other altars, include the Señor de los Temblores (Lord of the Tremors) and the altar of the Virgen de los Remedios (Virgin of the Remedies), which are rich with gold and silver offerings. Behind the main altar is the original wooden altar primitivo dedicated to St. Paul. The 64-seat cedar choir has rows of carved saints, popes, and bishops, all in stunning detail down to their delicately articulated hands.
By far the most impressive part of the cathedral is the 'capilla de la Plateria' (Silversmith Chapel), where the cathedrals wealth and treasures are really appreciated. Here the most precious jewel can be found, an enormous silver small temple that is used as a processional portable platform for the Corpus Christi. This was a gift from the Bishop Friar Bernardo de Serrada in 1731. On both sides of the cathedral there are two chapels, Capilla del Triunfo and Jesus, Maria and Jose. All of the chapels are enclosed by amazing golden railings and carvings.
Two of the most remarkable paintings on show are the 'La Imposicion de la Casulla a San Ildefonso' (Imposition of the Chasuble to Saint Ildefonso) and 'El Milagro de San Isidro Labrador’ (The Miracle of San Isidro Labrador). Paintings by indigenous artists, including Antonio Sinchi Roca a descendant of the Incan nobility can also be found. It's nice seeing indigenous work instead of Spanish paintings, which are more common inside religious places of worship in Peru. Antonio’s paintings represent the Israelite evangelists, prophets and kings. For me the most impressive artwork were the 50 canvases about the Lauretan Litanies executed by their master Marcos Zapata in 1755. These decorate the upper part of the cathedral, covering the arcs both from the aisles and from the sacristy.
Guides offer tours in Spanish, English, French, Italian, and German, which are included in your admission through the 'Boleto Turistico' ticket, costing $25 and also gains you access to 15 other attractions in and around Cusco. Unfortunately I visited the Cathedral as part of the Cusco City Tour and my guide, although obviously full of all the information you needed did not have adequate enough English to portray this. The Cathedral is open daily from 10am-6pm and can be contacted on 084/254-285.
From journal Cusco City - On the Trail of the Incas