Stock Photography Fine Art photo prints at Traveller Dreams

>> Home > Peru > Cusco

Cusco

Plaza de Armas - the Main Square

Surrounded by restaurants and tourist shops and the impressive cathedral and Jesuit church, the Plaza de Armas is the focal point of the town today as it was throughout the colonial period. The square witnessed the various crucial events throughout the history of Cusco. Here, in 1533, Francisco Pizarro proclaimed the conquest of Cusco and in the years following the Spanish Conquest, Cusco's main square also saw repeated uprisings and cruel public executions such as that of Tupac Amaru I, commander of the unsuccessful resistance died in 1571, and Tupac Amaru II, the most important indigenous leader of the 18th century.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, the square was completely rebuilt and it was surrounded by the stone arches and constructions as can be seen today.

Cusco, plaza de Armas

the focal point of the town

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

The Cathedral
The design is constituted by a latin-cross base with a Gothic-Renaissance façade and two monumental towers, entirely made of stone it gives a sense of great solidity. The first cathedral, called the Iglesia del Triunfo, was constructed in 1539 over the old Inca temple Suntur Wasi (House of God), later in 1560 the present Cathedral was erected over Kiswir Kancha (Quishuarcancha) the Palace of Inca Wiracocha. The Cathedral's interior contains the best manifestations of the colonial era, goldsmith, woodcarving and 400 paintings from the Escuela Cusqueña (Cusco School), a group of native painters who blended Western techniques with their own artistic creativity to produce some of the most beautiful and at times startling religious works of art. Altarpieces and paintings are made by important indigenous masters. The most striking image of the Cathedral is without doubt the Señor de los Temblores (Lord of the Earthquakes) Patron of Cusco, a venerated image of Christ made of more than 50 pounds of gold and precious stones. In the sacristy there is the famous "Cristo de la Agonía" (Christ of the Agony), traditionally known as the Christ of Van Dyck, based on a model of this Flemish master.
At both sides of the Cathedral, with simple stone façades that perfectly harmonize with the main temple, there are the two small churches of "Jesús, María y José" on the left side and "El Triunfo" on the right side.

Cusco cathedral

with two monumental towers it gives a sense of great solidity

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

Cusco cathedral

The church of the Society of Jesus - Compania de Jesus
After the Spanish invasion, the Amarukancha palace, one of the largest palaces that surrounded the main square of Qosqo, was donated to the "Compania de Jesus", the Jesuit Order that in 1576 started the construction of the today church. With its accentuated verticality this Jesuit church establishes a counterpoint to the Cathedral. The general concept of the building is completely baroque and it is considered one of the best examples of colonial Baroque architecture in America. The facade, all of carved andesite stones, is spectacular, one of the most beautiful in the entire city. Its towers in the upper part flaunt several "balconies" with projecting corbels, at the belfry's foot, a great projected cornice joins together the towers and the façade. In the interior there is a beautiful altar of gold, built over an underground chapel. The church also possesses a collection of sculptures and paintings.

Cusco, la Compania

With its verticality the Jesuit church establishes a counterpoint to the Cathedral

This and more photographs can be found at:

Traveller Dreams

  Related Pages
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - Cities of Peru
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - The archaeological legacy
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - Incan Architecture
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - Colonial architecture
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - Natural Landscapes
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - Trekking and Hiking in Peru
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - Birdwatching
  - Peru Stock Photography Index - Culture & Traditions

Architectural stock photography	Gallery of beach sea cost and villages pictures
Photo archaeology sites	Landscape stock photo gallery
Nature stock photography	Corsica stock photography and scenic picture
Cusco Peru Travel photos	Tunisia Travel pictures photos of Culture and Civilization
Mediterranean nature and landscape photos Gallery	Portugal images picture gallery Images of Lisbon Alentejo
High quality Italian Images of Lake Como	Images of Turkey Istanbul
Pictures of Spain and Andalucia photos	Sardinia Pictures
Gallery of Brittany France photos	Sicily picture photo gallery
Mountain Pictures	Trees stock photographs
Pictures of Venice Italy and its architecture	Photo of Croatia Split Dubrovnik

Stock Photography Online Digital Library

Stock Photography Online Digital Library of

Cusco, plaza de Armas

Cusco cathedral

Cusco, la Compania

Fine-art Print


- Posters & Prints - Stock Photos - Web Graphics -	Information \| Stock Photography \| Photo Prints \| Contact Us