Plaza de Armas is the central square of Cusco, in Peru, and it is the natural place to begin a walk through the city. It is known under several names, including Plaza de la Independencia, Independence Square and Arms Square, and the listing also points to Havana and Paramaribo, though the square described here is the one in Cusco.
The square and its surroundings
The plaza is lined with colonial arcades, and the buildings around it give it a calm, formal feel. The cathedral stands on one side, and La Compañía church is close by, so visitors can see two of the city's most important religious buildings from the same open space. Benches and the open ground make it an easy place to pause between visits.
A site with older roots
The square was built on the ceremonial center of Qosqco, the Inca capital. Standing here, you are on ground that held the heart of an earlier city long before the colonial buildings rose around it. This layering of Inca and colonial history is what gives the plaza its interest.
What to expect
- A walk-through public square, suited to a relaxed stroll rather than a timed visit.
- Colonial arcades and church façades to look at from different sides of the plaza.
- A convenient starting point for exploring the rest of the historic centre of Cusco on foot.
If you are visiting Cusco, the plaza is worth an unhurried hour, both for the buildings and for the sense of where the city's history began.
