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Church · Cusco, Cusco
Catedral del Cusco
Cathedral built from 1560 to the mid-17th century on top of an Inca palace, with hundreds of paintings of the Cusco school, the Last Supper featuring a cuy on the plate, and the Christ of the Tremors.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Catedral del Cusco
The Cathedral of Cusco occupies the northeast side of the Plaza de Armas, on the grounds of the palace of the Inca Viracocha. Construction began in 1560 and was completed in the mid-17th century, using stones brought from Sacsayhuamán. The complex includes two churches attached to it: the church of Triunfo, the first Christian church in the city, and the church of Jesús María.
The interior houses one of the largest collections of colonial painting in South America, with hundreds of canvases of the Cusco school, in which saints and virgins appear with gilded mantles and elements of the Andean landscape. The most talked-about painting is the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata, an indigenous painter of the 18th century, in which Christ and the apostles share a cuy, the guinea pig, a traditional Andean dish.
In a side chapel is the Señor de los Temblores, the dark Christ who, according to tradition, protected the city during the 1650 earthquake. He goes out in procession on Holy Monday. The choir has carved cedar choir stalls, and the main altar is covered in silver.
Visits are made with an audio guide and have a separate ticket, not included in the Cusco tourist pass. Photographing inside the church is not allowed. Check the visiting hours before you go: during Mass times tourist visits are restricted.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 to 1½ hours for the Cathedral, Triunfo and Jesús María with an audio guide.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon, outside Mass times. On Holy Monday the procession of the Señor de los Temblores fills the square. Check visiting hours before you go.
How to get there
It is on the Plaza de Armas, in central Cusco. The tourist entrance is through the church of Triunfo, to the right of the main façade.
Tip
Look for Marcos Zapata’s Last Supper and the cuy at the center of the table. Request the audio guide in Portuguese if available, and allow time for the sacristy and the choir stalls.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Catedral del Cusco
What is the Last Supper with cuy?
It is the painting by Marcos Zapata, a Cusco painter of the 18th century, in which Christ's supper features a roasted cuy on the main plate, along with Andean fruits and drinks.
Is the Catedral included in the tourist ticket?
No. The Catedral has its own ticket. Confirm the price and opening hours before you go.
Can you photograph inside the Catedral?
Generally no. Photos are allowed in the square and of the façade.
Who is the Señor dos Tremores?
It is the dark Christ venerated in the Catedral which, according to tradition, protected the city in the 1650 earthquake. It goes out in procession on Holy Monday.