History of the Plaza
The Plaza de Armas was historically and still is the main center of the city of Cusco. During the era of the Incas, the Plaza was known as "Huacaypata", which means the Place of Tears or the Weeping Square where ceremonies and military parades were hosted in honor of warriors and celebration of victories. The original Plaza was constructed in the shape of a Puma, to reflect the mythology that revolved around the city. However, in 1532, the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro captured the square, renaming it the Plaza de Armas in memory of the victory that he fought in order to take Cusco under control of the Spanish. The Spanish decided to build on the square, constructing two churches on either side of the square; the Cathedral on the north side and La Compania on the east end.

The Plaza as a Tourist Attraction
The Plaza still serves as the center or "heart" of the city of Cusco. Tourists are encouraged to visit the center in order to witness and look into the historical culture of Cusco while noting its adaptation to meet the needs of modernity. Due to its central location in the city, the Plaza is accessible from every direction, thus encouraging the use of the Plaza as an alternative to the curvy high-traffic roads within the city. The Plaza is accessible by foot and with both the Cathedral and la Compania located within the boundaries of the Plaza, most tourists will spend a great deal of time in the Plaza during their stay in Cusco. Additionally, the Plaza still serves as a cultural center of the city where speakers, festivals and ceremonies tend to occur.

The sheer volume of people who walk through the Plaza each day is incredible and really illustrates the importance of the Plaza in not only today's Andean society, but the still standing preserved Inca walls continue to remind visitors of the cultural importance that the Plaza once served to pay respects to fallen warriors and commend those who successfully defended the Inca territory. Additionally, the brokenness of those walls also stands as a symbol of Pizarro's conquest of Cusco and the declaration of Cusco as a Spanish city. Thus, for all visitors, the Plaza is not only a central meeting point, but a historical lesson for those who want an insight to the cultural tradition of the city.

  Cusco Overview

  Highlights:
    Plaza de Armas
    Coricancha
    San Blas Neighborhood
    Churches
    Museums
    Important Streets

  Lodging and Hotels
    Luxury Hotels
    4-Star Hotels
    3-Star Hotels

  History

  Weather

  Transportation
    From Lima
    From Puno

  Nearby Highlights:
    Machu Picchu
    Sacred Valley