
Cusco Cathedral & Plaza de Armas
Cusco, Peru
About This Activity
The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption was built from stones of a dismantled Inca palace and is one of the finest examples of colonial Spanish Renaissance architecture in the Americas. Its interior holds a remarkable collection of Cusqueña-school religious art — including Marcos Zapata's famous 'Last Supper' where Christ and his disciples dine on cuy (guinea pig). Admission is ~S/40 (~$11 USD). The surrounding Plaza de Armas is the social and architectural heart of Cusco, lined with colonial arcades and Andean mountain views.
Seasonal note: Year-round; interior photography is not permitted. Visit early morning or late afternoon when light in the Plaza de Armas is best.
Compare with Alternatives
See how Cusco Cathedral & Plaza de Armas stacks up against other must-see activities nearby.
See This in an Itinerary
This activity appears in 49 of our curated itineraries.
Best 5 Days in Peru
Lima → Cusco
Best 5 Days in Peru — Nature
Lima → Cusco
Best 5 Days in Peru — Adventure
Lima → Cusco
Best 5 Days in Peru — Walking Tours
Lima → Cusco
Best 5 Days in Peru — Art & Culture
Lima → Cusco
Best 5 Days in Peru — Food & Wine
Lima → Cusco
More Activities in Cusco

Machu Picchu Day Trip from Cusco
Day trip to Machu Picchu from Cusco — train, bus, and the 15th-century Inca citadel above the clouds
Sacred Valley Full-Day Tour
Full-day tour of the Inca heartland — Pisac market, Ollantaytambo fortress, Chinchero weavers

Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun)
Visit the Inca Empire's most sacred gold temple — its foundations now buried beneath a Spanish convent

Sacsayhuamán Inca Fortress
Stand before Cusco's colossal Inca fortress walls — limestone blocks up to 300 tons fitted without mortar
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) Hike
Trek to 5,200m Vinicunca — Peru's vivid striped Rainbow Mountain revealed by receding glaciers

San Blas Artisan Quarter Walk
Wander Cusco's hillside artisan quarter — ceramics, textiles, rooftop views, and a remarkable carved pulpit

Cusco Food Tour at San Pedro Market
Guided tasting tour of San Pedro Market — chicha morada, anticuchos, quinoa soup, and Andean street food
Free Day in Cusco
A free day to explore Cusco at your own pace