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What architectural features defined the Cuzco style of church architecture?
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Latin American architecture
The voyages of Christopher Columbus.
The Cuzco style of church architecture, which emerged following the major earthquake of 1650, is defined by several distinct structural and decorative features:
- Facade Composition: The style is characterized by the placement of twin bell towers on an austere, square base. These towers frame an elaborately articulated central portal, creating a contrast between the ornate entrance and the plain surface of the facade.1
- Interior Organization: The interior space is typically organized by three rectilinear naves.1
- Decoration: While the overall structure remains relatively austere, the style incorporates elaborate Baroque decoration specifically on the altarpiece.1
This architectural typology originated with the cathedral of Cuzco, a project attributed to the Flemish Jesuit Juan Bautista Egidiano. The style was subsequently reproduced across a wide region, extending from Lima to Sucre, Bolivia. Notable examples of this style include the late 17th-century churches of San Sebastián, San Pedro, and Belen in Cuzco, which were designed by indigenous architects Manuel de Sahuaraura and Juan Tomás Tuyru Tupac.1