Plaza de Armas (Cusco)

When Manco Cápac arrived in the valley of Cusco, he settled in the surroundings of a swamp located between two streams (Saphy and Tullumayo) because that place was free from the threats of neighboring ethnic groups.[1] The swamp was formed due to the continuous irrigation of the Saphy and Tullumayu rivers. Manco Capac built his palace called Colcampata at the base of the Sacsayhuaman plateau and the city was always built around the swamp.[8] Sinchi Roca, son and successor of Manco Capac dried the swamp with earth brought from the mountains[1] and later Pachacuti was in charge of drying it completely covering the swamp with sand brought from the coast.[9]

Old photograph of the Saphi creek channeled by the part that crossed the Plaza de Armas

During the Inca period, the main square was larger than the current square because in addition to the current square (former Huacaypata) it occupied the entire area of the current Plaza Regocijo (formerly Cusipata), the "Hotel Cusco" and the blocks located between Calle Espaderos, Calle del Medio and Calle Mantas.[10] Precisely these blocks and the Calle del Medio were crossed by the Saphy River (currently covered and made sewer), which divided the square into its two sectors already known.[11] It was the religious and administrative center of the Inca Empire. As well as being the main axis of the Inca road.[12] Around the square were the palaces of Pachacuti, Huayna Capac and Viracocha Inca.[13]

The square was surrounded by the palaces of the Incas as well as plots of land destined for future palaces. The palace of Pachacuti was called Qasana and was located on the northwest side of the square on the site that today corresponds to the Portal de Panes and is circumscribed by Calle Plateros, Calle Tigre, Calle Teqsecocha and Calle Procuradores. The palace of Huayna Capac was called Amaru Cancha and was located on the southeast side of the square on the site that is now occupied by the Iglesia de la Compañía, the Portal de la Compañía, the University Auditorium and also the Palace of Justice. This site is now circumscribed by the Calle Loreto, Calle Afligidos, Calle Mantas and Avenida El Sol. The palace of the Inca Viracocha called Sunturwasi nowadays corresponds to the block where the Cathedral is located. Additionally, the current Portal de Harinas corresponds to the old palace called Korakora and the Portal de Carrizos to the old Acllawasi.

During the Inca period, this was where almost all the Inca festivals were celebrated, including Inti Raymi, Huarachicuy, the Amaru dance, Capac Raymi, etc. It was also where the main fairs were held and where the victories of the Inca army were celebrated.[14] The Inca armies were received in the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, where the spoils were exhibited and the prisoners of war were trampled as a sign of victory.

Map of the Plaza de Armas during the Inca period. Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 together would form the sector that used to be called Curipata.

When the Spaniards arrived in Cusco, they stayed in the Inca palaces around the square.[15] Later, they built viceroyal mansions, cathedrals, temples and chapels over the Inca palaces. In 1545 the chief magistrate Polo de Ondergardo ordered the removal of the beach sand that was on the floor of the square to use it in the construction of the Cusco Cathedral.[16] In 1555, the chief magistrate of Cuzco, Sebastián Garcilaso de la Vega authorized the construction of buildings in the middle of the Huacaypata thus generating the blocks currently located between Calle Espaderos, Calle Del Medio, Calle Mantas, Calle Heladeros and Calle Espinar as well as the current Plaza de Armas, Plaza Regocijo, Plaza Espinar and the Hotel de Turistas which, during the Viceroyalty served as the Casa de Moneda.[17]

At the present time, the Plaza de Armas is surrounded by tourist restaurants, jewelry stores, travel agencies and tourist stores, etc. The two temples built around it are maintained as such during the hours of worship, outside these hours they are museums open to the public upon payment of the corresponding fees.

Most of the buildings still have some Inca walls in their foundations, but it is the colonial style that prevails. The importance of the area makes it the most expensive in the city of Cusco. In some cases the rent of a local exceeds 1500 dollars per month. In the first decade of the 21st century, several national and international franchises entered the Cusco market, opening their first stores in the Plaza de Armas, such as the Peruvian company Bembos and the American companies McDonald's, Starbucks and KFC.[18]

The square is still the place of celebrations of many Cuzco folkloric festivities such as Santiraticuy, Corpus Christi, Easter, etc. and many other modern festivities such as the Fiestas Patrias, Fiestas del Cusco, New Year, etc. Occasionally the Plaza de Armas is the site of some free concerts, parades of delegations and some political rallies.