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Cusco · History

From the Temple of the Sun to the Cross: Cusco of two empires

A walk past the walls the Incas raised and the buildings the Spanish put on top of them: temples, palaces, a square of festivals and executions, and an artisans’ quarter at the top of the hill.

  • 5 stops
  • 1.4 km
  • 1 h 45 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Curved Inca wall of Qorikancha beneath the church of Santo Domingo

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Qorikancha and Santo DomingoThe Inca Temple of the Sun, turned into a Dominican convent, where Inca stonework survived the earthquakes that brought down the colonial walls.
  2. 2 Calle Loreto: the alley of Inca wallsA narrow alley between two Inca walls: on one side, Huayna Cápac’s palace; on the other, the house of the chosen women.
  3. 3 Plaza de Armas: the old HuacaypataThe great ceremonial square of the Incas was also the stage for the conquest and for the execution of Túpac Amaru II.
  4. 4 Hatun Rumiyoc and the palace of Inca RocaThe wall of the palace attributed to Inca Roca, now the Archbishop’s Palace, with the Twelve-Angled Stone set into its base.
  5. 5 San Blas: the neighbourhood and its churchThe artisans’ quarter at the top of a steep slope, with a plain-looking church that holds one of the most celebrated pulpits in the Americas.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

From the Temple of the Sun to the Cross: Cusco of two empires

Stone on stone

You’ll learn to tell at a glance an Inca wall from the colonial work resting on it.

From Pachacútec to Túpac Amaru II

Five stops covering three centuries, from Inca splendour to the great rebellion of 1781.

At altitude pace

A short, compact route designed for walking slowly at 3,400 metres.

Keep exploring

More routes in Cusco

Back to Cusco
Mysteries & legendsTunnels, tremors and serpents: legendary Cusco MixedCusco in a morning: market, squares and the famous stone

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Cusco?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Cusco in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Cusco in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Cusco in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary