Cathedral of Santa Domingo in Peru

Completed in 1654, Cusco’s Cathedral of Santa Domingo is the centerpiece of the city, situated on the Plaza de Armas. It took nearly 100 years to build this magnificent ecclesiastic structure, which adjoins the Iglesia del Triunfo, which was the first Christian church to be built in the city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this cathedral is a revered place of worship for the many Roman Catholics that live in and around the city.

The cathedral was built on the foundations of what was once an Inca palace known as Kiswarkanchar, the home of Incan emperor Viracocha. The Spanish dubbed the site ideal for their church, so they destroyed the palace to make way for what would eventually be Cusco’s center for religion.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1559 and most of the laborers were Incas that were still living in the city after the Spanish conquest. The church was to be built in the Latin cross-shape, a design very popular during the 16^th Century, with a three-aisle nave. Most of the stones for the exterior of the cathedral were, unfortunately, taken from an Incan holy structure known as Saqsaywaman, part of which still sits in the hills above the city of Cusco.

The church was designed in a Gothic-Renaissance style with touches of Baroque architecture mixed in, especially on the grand façade. The design was very typical of what was being built in Spain at the time. However, because the Inca workers were still bitter about the conquest, they were able to take some revenge on the Spaniards by including a number of Incan elements and religious symbols into the construction. For example, visitors can find a Puma head on the doors of the cathedral. This animal was a major symbol in the Inca culture and can be found at many sacred Inca sites as well.

Not only is the Cathedral of Santa Domingo a center for religion in Cusco but it is also notable for the works of art found inside and for the wonderful pieces of craftsmanship integrated into the design. For example, the church’s sacristy contains numerous excellent paintings including works by Marcos Zapata and a large crucifixion-themed painting by Dutch artist Anthony Van Dyck. Also of note is the Pintura Senor de los Temblores, a painting that is believed to be the oldest in Cusco, depicting the people of the city gathered around the Plaza des Armas, praying for the 1650 earthquake to end. Also look for the original Zapata “Last Supper” painting featuring Jesus and the Apostles feasting on guinea pig, a local favorite. Visitors will no doubt admire the awesome solid-silver altar (which was originally cedar covered in gold flakes) and a variety of other architectural gems.

If you hear a cathedral bell ring for a special occasion at the church, it’s probably the original Maria Angelo bell, cast in 1659 and weighing some 13,000 pounds. Legend says it is able to be heard for more than 20 miles around, though the bell is now cracked and only rung softy on certain occasions.

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