cathedral of Cuzco

The Cathedral of Cuzco is a significant religious building in Cuzco, Peru, constructed primarily in the mid-1650s. It exemplifies the Cuzco style of architecture, characterized by twin bell towers on an austere base framing an elaborate central portal. The interior features three rectilinear naves with Baroque decoration concentrated on the altarpiece. This style, influenced by European Baroque but adapted by local architects, was influential throughout colonial Peru and Bolivia. The cathedral was built on the foundations of Inca structures and is one of the few buildings to have survived major earthquakes in 1650 and 1950. The city of Cuzco itself was the historic capital of the Inca Empire and is known for its well-preserved Inca stonework integrated into Spanish colonial architecture.123