The Cathedral Basilica

The Cathedral Basilica is one of Cusco’s best-known sites, and easily familiar to anyone who has been to the city. Situated on the eastern edge of the Plaza de Armas, this large and beautiful Renaissance style structure dominates the historic district’s skyline. During my recent visit there, I spent many hours passing beneath its spires, resting upon broad steps, or using it as a backdrop in my photos of the local culture.

I was introduced to the cathedral a couple years ago when I began researching my upcoming novel. By the time I boarded a plane for Cusco last October, I had probably spent hundreds of hours imagining myself (through the eyes of my characters) gazing up at the impressive sight. So, when I actually saw the cathedral in person, it was literally a dream come true. On my way to my hotel, while gazing out the windshield of a taxi, the architectural masterpiece rose impressively into view.

Calle Hatunrumiyoc: Street of the Great Stone

One of the best examples of the megalithic stonework of pre-Columbian Peru is found along Cusco’s Calle Hatunrumiyoc, or “Street of the Great Stone.”

Located just east of the Plaza de Armas, this charming pedestrian alley is flanked by walls of large, polygonal stones that typify the “imperial” style of masonry assembled by a pre-Spanish civilization. Fashioned from green diorite, the blocks are set with mind-boggling precision. No mortar was used, yet their joints are so tight that a knife blade cannot be inserted between them. Perhaps most extraordinarily, these walls have survived at five centuries of earthquakes that devastated many Spanish (and even contemporary) structures.

The Andean Cross: An Old and Mysterious Symbol

           One of the oldest and most mysterious symbols in Peru is the Andean Cross. This geometric design is seen throughout the country’s textiles, jewelry, and architecture, including several ancient places and holy temples. The cross is examined in many books and websites, too. During my recent trip to Peru, I saw the symbol in nearly every shop or market I visited (and I came home with numerous souvenirs to prove it!).

I was introduced to the Andean Cross long before I visited Peru, back when I first began researching the Incas. Each account I read seemed to present a different interpretation of the design. Some suggested a religious meaning, others spiritual or cosmic, and a few purely geometric. When I arrived in Cusco, I asked several locals – from storekeepers to cultural experts – and got just as many answers!

In this blog/video post, I'll share some of the most common interrpetations.