Table of Content
- General Information about the Ticket
- Places Included in the Ticket
- Ticket Sales Points
- Details of Each Attraction
- Advantages of the Religious Ticket
- Other Religious Sites (Separate Tickets)
- Rules and Recommendations
- Practical Information
- Mass Times (Free Entry)
- Tips for Your Visit
- Art of the Cusqueña School
- Colonial Architecture
- Comparison with Other Tickets
- Inca-Spanish Cultural Fusion
- Visit Planning
The Religious Circuit Ticket for Cusco is a specialized entry that allows access to the main colonial temples and religious sites of the imperial city. Managed by the Archdiocese of Cusco, this ticket offers a unique experience to discover colonial religious art, Baroque architecture, and the cultural fusion between Inca and Spanish traditions.
General Information about the Ticket
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | S/ 30 soles (approximately US$ 10) |
| Administrator | Archdiocese of Cusco |
| Validity | No specific time limit |
| Free age | Children up to 8 years (with ID) |
| Single fee | Same price for nationals and foreigners |
| Availability | No limit, can be purchased on the same day |
| Online sales | Not available, only in-person purchase |
Places Included in the Ticket
| Attraction | Location | Main Features |
|---|---|---|
| Cusco Cathedral | Main Square (Plaza de Armas) | Most impressive colonial monument, 100 years of construction (1560-1664), pure silver altar |
| San Blas Church | San Blas neighborhood | Famous carved pulpit, colonial architecture, bohemian atmosphere of the neighborhood |
| San Cristóbal Church | San Cristóbal Hill | Panoramic views of Cusco, clock tower, religious paintings |
| Religious Art Museum | Archbishop’s Palace | Paintings from the Cusqueña School, gilded frames, colonial art |
Ticket Sales Points
| Sales Location | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Cusco Cathedral | Main Square (Plaza de Armas) | Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| San Blas Church | San Blas neighborhood | Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| San Cristóbal Church | San Cristóbal Hill | Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Religious Art Museum | Hatunrumiyoc Street | Monday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
Details of Each Attraction
Cusco Cathedral
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Construction | 1560-1664 (over 100 years of building) |
| Architects | Juan Miguel de Veramendi (1560), Juan Correa (1562-1564), Miguel Gutiérrez Sencio (completion 1649) |
| Architectural style | Fusion of Baroque, late Gothic, Renaissance, and mestizo Plateresque |
| Building | On Suntur Wasi (Inca palace of Viracocha) and Kiswarkancha |
| Composition | 3 temples: El Triunfo (1538), Central Basilica, and Holy Family (1723) |
| Structure | Rectangular basilica-type plan, 3 naves (Epistle, Central, Gospel) |
| Columns | 14 cruciform andesite stone columns support 24 Gothic vaults |
| Main altar | Carved in cedar, covered with pure silver leaves donated by Bishop Heras |
| Materials | Blocks of stone from Sacsayhuamán, without mortar in the Inca style |
| Notable art | Paintings from the Cusqueña School, Baroque pulpit (1647), cedar seating |
| Famous works | “The Last Supper” by Marcos Zapata (with guinea pig), Christ of the Earthquakes |
| Dimensions | 3,920 square meters, 32 meters high |
| Bells | María Angola (1659): 2.15m tall, 5,980 kg, audible up to 20 miles |
| Acknowledgments | Minor basilica (1928), UNESCO Heritage (1983) |
San Blas Church
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Construction | 1544 (during Bishop Juan Solano) – 1563 according to other sources |
| Historical location | Inca neighborhood “T’oqokachi” (salt hole), on the temple of Illapa |
| Architecture | Rectangular plan, adobe walls reinforced with stone after the 1650 earthquake |
| Structure | Single nave, two doors, bell gable with bell tower (reconstructed 1950) |
| Famous for | Carved pulpit considered a masterpiece of American colonial art |
| Pulpit | A piece of cedar, Churrigueresque-Baroque style, completed around 1692 |
| Pulpit author | Juan Tomás Tuyro Túpac (Cusqueña carver, Major Sergeant of Indigenous Nobility) |
| Pulpit composition | Base: 8 busts of heretics, Railing: 4 evangelists and Virgin, Crown: Saint Paul |
| Legend | Leper carver healed after revelation of the Virgin of Good Success |
| Neighborhood location | “Artists’ Neighborhood,” narrow cobblestone streets, artisan workshops |
| Main altar | Golden cedar with gold, Baroque Salomonic columns, work of Tuyro Túpac |
| Retables | Virgin of Good Success (1678), Saint Joseph, Christ of Agony |
| Historical function | Indigenous evangelization center, one of the first 5 parishes |
| Mural art | 8 anonymous canvases with gilded frames depicting the martyrdom of Saint Blas |
| Influence | Bishop Mollinedo y Angulo promoted decoration and Baroque art |
| Current atmosphere | Heart of the bohemian neighborhood, surrounded by cafes, galleries, and hotels |
San Cristóbal Church
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Northeast hill, facing San Blas, 430m from Main Square (Plaza de Armas) |
| Construction | Early colonial period, adobe and stone architecture |
| Foundation | One of the first indigenous parishes (post 1559) |
| Panoramic views | Stunning 360° views of Cusco and the surrounding valley |
| Clock tower | Privileged viewpoint with colonial bell tower |
| Religious art | Countless religious paintings, Baroque altarpieces |
| Architecture | Nave painted with religious motifs and colonial decoration |
| Recommended access | Route through Nazarenas Square, steep 10-15 minute walk |
| Proximity | Near the Pre-Columbian Art Museum and Monastery Hotel |
| Style | Simple colonial with Baroque influences in interior decoration |
| Pastoral function | Active parish for communities in the high area |
| Unique features | Serene atmosphere away from tourist bustle |
| Historical importance | Testimony of evangelization in peripheral Inca neighborhoods |
| Conservation status | Well maintained, part of UNESCO Heritage since 1983 |
| Mass times | Sundays 7:00-9:00 AM (free entry during services) |
Religious Art Museum (Archbishop’s Palace)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Historic building | Colonial palace with Spanish Moorish architecture from the 16th century |
| Location | Hatunrumiyoc Street (Stone of the 12 angles), historic center |
| Main courtyard | Shaded cloister with central fountain, colonial arcade |
| Decoration | Blue and white Andalusian tiles, carved wooden Mudéjar ceilings |
| Painting collection | Largest repository of Cusqueña School paintings in gilded frames |
| Cusqueña School | Fusion of European-Andean art (16th-18th centuries), without author signatures |
| Notable works | Lauretan Litanies, virgins with Andean features, mestizo saints |
| Artistic techniques | Oil on canvas, gold leaf gilding, Baroque polychromy |
| Particularity | Anonymous indigenous artists due to colonial imposition |
| Influence | Bishop Mollinedo introduced works by El Greco from Madrid (1673) |
| Furniture | Cedar colonial cabinets and chests, episcopal seating |
| Goldsmithing | Chalices, monstrances, crowns of 18-24 karat gold with gems |
| Main monstrance | 22 kilos of gold, 5 kilos of silver, over 1000 precious stones |
| Cultural value | Testimony of Inca-Spanish religious syncretism |
| Conservation status | Restored, climate-controlled for preservation of works |
| Importance | Continental reference for colonial religious art in South America |
Advantages of the Religious Ticket
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Economic savings | Cost S/30 vs S/50+ buying individual tickets at each site |
| Complete access | 4 UNESCO heritage sites visitable in 1 full day |
| Exclusive art | Unique access to private collections of the Cusqueña Archdiocese |
| Complete history | Comprehensive understanding of colonial Catholicism and cultural syncretism |
| Cultural fusion | Unique testimony of the encounter between Inca and Spanish civilizations |
| Cusqueña School | Unique examples of Peruvian colonial art with Andean influence |
| Diverse architecture | Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance, Mudéjar styles in one circuit |
| Flexible hours | No time limit, valid until all 4 sites are completed |
| Immersive experience | Tour through the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site |
| Educational value | Understanding of 3 centuries of colonial history (16th-18th) |
| Authenticity | Original sites with period decoration and art |
| Tourist exclusivity | Access to spaces not included in other tourist tickets |
Other Religious Sites (Separate Tickets)
| Attraction | Price | Location | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo | S/ 15 soles | On Qoricancha | Church on the Inca Sun Temple |
| Andahuaylillas | S/ 15 soles | Southern Valley | “Sistine Chapel of America” |
| Andean Baroque Circuit | Variable | Southern Valley | Includes 4 Baroque churches |
Rules and Recommendations
| Aspect | Rules |
|---|---|
| Photographs | Strictly prohibited in all churches |
| Clothing | Respectful, cover shoulders and knees |
| Behavior | Do not interrupt religious services |
| Conservation | Do not touch works of art or altarpieces |
| Silence | Maintain respect and stillness |
| Cleanliness | Respect the cleanliness of the temples |
Practical Information
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Recommended duration | 4-6 hours for a complete visit |
| Best day | Monday to Saturday (Sundays have masses) |
| Documents | ID or passport required |
| Services | Private guides available (additional cost) |
| Accessibility | Limited in some colonial temples |
| Languages | Information available in Spanish and English |
Mass Times (Free Entry)
| Church | Mass Times |
|---|---|
| Catedral | Sundays 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
| San Blas | Sundays 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
| San Cristóbal | Sundays 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
| Santo Domingo | Sundays 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
Tips for Your Visit
| Recommendation | Description |
|---|---|
| Hire a guide | Essential for understanding artistic details |
| Set a price | Agree on the guide’s fee before the tour |
| Suggested order | Catedral → San Blas → San Cristóbal → Museum |
| Time per site | 1-1.5 hours per church/museum |
| Best time | Mornings for better natural lighting |
| Avoid Sundays | Mass days with limited access |
Art of the Cusqueña School
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Historical period | 16th-18th centuries (peak 17th-18th), from conquest to independence |
| Origin | Jesuit and Dominican workshops to train indigenous artists |
| Distinctive style | Fusion of Renaissance-Baroque European art with Andean worldview |
| Predominant theme | Catholic religious with incorporated Inca symbolic elements |
| Pictorial technique | Oil on canvas, gilded frames, abundant polychromy |
| Unique features | Virgins with Andean features, highland landscapes, local fauna |
| Notable artists | Diego Quispe Tito, Marcos Zapata, Basilio Santa Cruz Pumacallao |
| Colonial particularity | Indigenous artists could not sign works due to Spanish restriction |
| Andean elements | Inca sun as halo, clothing with tocapus, native foods |
| European influence | Flemish engravings, prints of Rubens, mannerist techniques |
| Patronage | Bishop Mollinedo y Angulo was the main patron (1673-1699) |
| Emblematic works | “Last Supper” with guinea pig, “Lauretan Litanies,” Christological series |
| Main location | 80% in Religious Art Museum, 20% distributed in churches |
| Historical value | First genuinely American artistic movement |
| Recognition | Continental reference for Hispanic-American colonial art |
| Conservation status | Restoration programs with international UNESCO support |
Colonial Architecture
| Element | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Dominant style | Adapted Spanish Baroque |
| Materials | Volcanic stone, carved wood |
| Influences | Mudéjar, Plateresque, mestizo |
| Decoration | Gilded altarpieces, mural paintings |
| Foundations | On bases of Inca temples |
| Symbolism | Christian-Andean religious fusion |
Comparison with Other Tickets
| Ticket | Price | Sites | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Religious | S/ 30 | 4 churches/museum | Colonial religious art |
| BTC Circuit 1 | S/ 70 | 4 archaeological sites | Inca archaeology |
| BTC Circuit 2 | S/ 70 | 4 museums | Art and culture |
| BTC Integral | S/ 130 | 16 sites | Complete archaeological |
Inca-Spanish Cultural Fusion
| Aspect | Manifestation |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Churches built on Inca temples |
| Art | Virgins with Andean features |
| Symbolism | Christian sun = Inca Inti |
| Materials | Inca stones in colonial walls |
| Spaces | Ceremonial plazas as atriums |
| Festivities | Corpus Christi with Andean elements |
Visit Planning
| Stay duration | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| 1 day in Cusco | Prioritize Cathedral and San Blas |
| 2-3 days | Complete circuit in 1 day |
| 1 week | Combine with other tickets |
| Specific interest | Focus on Religious Art Museum |
| Photography | Only exteriors allowed |
| Research | Ideal for art/history students |
The Religious Tourist Ticket for Cusco represents a unique opportunity to understand Peru’s complex colonial history, where Spanish religious imposition fused with ancestral Inca traditions, creating a cultural and artistic syncretism unparalleled in America. Each church and museum included in this circuit tells a fundamental part of this fascinating story of the encounter between two worlds.
