Peru Awaits at
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco

Qorikancha 

The temple of Qorikancha was the place where god Inti (sun) paid homage to the highest Inca god. “Qori” means worked in gold, its spanish form is cori and “Kancha” means an enclosed place, limited by walls. In this way the name corresponds to a “fenced place that contains gold”.

Garcilaso recounts that inside this temple were the embalmed bodies of the children of the Sun, placed by antiquity on chairs and on gold tables. The walls were covered with gold plates and a disc was made to represent the figure of the Sun on a thicker gold plate than the others that covered the temple. At the western end it corresponds to the current drum with a view of the Avenida del Sol. Its eastern end reaches the current atrium of the church.

San Pedro Market 

This is a unique and extraordinary market. At first it can give the feeling of disorder, but actually is not. The accommodation is made according to the merchandise to be sold.

Food predominates, especially corn and potatoes in all their varieties, but there are also clothes,  flowers and items for all uses. You can find crafts made with guayruro and goat and cow cheeses. The grainy noise of the lima beans falling on the metal ladders is heard, the voices of the women offering fresh juices, chocolates made with cocoa from Cusco, wheat and corn bread, bouquets of flowers freshly picked from the field.

Plaza de Armas

Plaza de Armas is one of the most iconic places in the city. It is still the place of celebration of many Cusco folkloric festivals such as Santiraticuy, Corpus Christi, Holy Week and many other modern festivities such as Independence Day, Cusco Festivals, New Year, among others.

It was the religious center, home to festivals, fairs and celebrations of the victories of the Inca army. Around this plaza were built the temples and palaces of the Inca families that reigned after the founding of Cusco, but also those prior to the founding of the new capital.

From the plaza the 4 main roads of Capac Ñan (the famous Inca road system) started. Each path led to one of the 4 suyu of the empire (or Tawantinsuyu): Chinchaysuyo to the north, Contisuyo to the west, Collasuyo to the south and Antisuyo to the east.

Cusco Cathedral

The Cathedral of Cusco has characteristics of the Gothic, Renaissance Mannerist and Baroque. Flanked by two solid towers, the side portals are Mannerist and the central ones are discreetly Baroque. It has a rich history that can be learned through its internal tours.

It has splendid altars in Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Its carved wooden pulpit and its choir are magnificent works of Cusco craftsmanship. An important collection of paintings from the Cusco school works by Diego Quispe Tito, Basilio Santa Cruz Pumacallo, Basilio Pacheco and Mark Zapata, who created a unique “Last Supper” in which the main dish is roasted guinea pig.

San Blas

Currently known as the neighborhood of artisans, a place where you can find many talented people. One of those talents is Sabino Huaman, he is a luthier, one of only two in all of Peru. He makes many instruments: percussion, string and wind. The Mendivil family is a family famous for its sculptures of religious icons such as the Largo and  neck virgins.

The neighborhood also offers some of the most spectacular panoramic views of the city. In the small plaza at the top and to the right of Cuesta San Blas, is the small white Temple of San Blas, said to be the oldest parish church in Cusco.