The colonial past of Cusco is expressed architecturally, artistically, and religiously in the route of its four temples: La Compañía, Andahuaylillas, Huaro, and Canincunca.

Living Temples

These buildings, which are over 400 years old, are not only architectural gems and guardians of priceless frescoes, oil paintings, and sculptures: they continue to be a central part of the life of their towns, their customs, their festivals, and their fervor.

The Compañía de Jesús Temple, located in Cusco’s main square, just a few steps from the Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, has such a presence that many mistake it for the cathedral. Construction began in 1576 on the Inca temple Amaru Cancha, and it was completely rebuilt after a strong earthquake that affected the city in 1650. This is where the route begins. In addition, its architecture served as a model for many other temples that were built in the southern Andes. Inside, one of the most impressive high altars, 21 meters high, made of carved wood and covered with gold leaf, has been preserved.

An hour’s drive from the city center, in the middle of the so-called South Valley that runs parallel to the Vilcanota River, is the Virgen Purificada de Canincunca Chapel. Construction of this single-nave building began in the early 17th century. Its interior walls are richly decorated with murals and gold leaf bands depicting flowers, fruits, and birds.

The next stop on the route is the San Juan Bautista de Huaro temple, built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. In addition to the murals covering the walls and ceiling, its interior houses sculptures and canvases, as well as silverware, altarpieces, and antique furniture.

Finally, there is San Pedro Apóstol de Andahuaylillas, known as “the Sistine Chapel of America” due to its impressive murals, its carved wooden decorations and lavish gold leaf, and the triumphal arch that separates the presbytery from the main nave. The temple, as we know it, began to be built in 1610 and is today one of the most important religious buildings in Peru.

This route is an opportunity to get closer to the life of the small towns surrounding the temples, made up of farmers, merchants, and ranchers, as well as musicians and dancers who live alongside this Andean Baroque.

It is worth noting that this is an easily accessible route that can be completed in half a day, allowing you to discover one of the richest aspects of Cusco.