La Catedral
Built between 1556 and 1669 on the site of the Inca Viracocha's palace, the monolithic cathedral dominates one side of the plaza. Full of treasures, it is one of the city's best repositories of colonial art and includes detailed carved altars and a sacristy full of portraits of priests from the past, as well as the blackened crucifix that was paraded around Cusco in 1650 to stop a giant earthquake. There's also a very famous painting of the Last Supper by Marcos Zapata, at which Christ and his disciples are pictured feasting on guinea pig.

Plaza de Armas
Admission charge.

La Compañía
This Jesuit church is the other massive building on the Plaza de Armas. Built on the ruins of the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac, it is a grand building complete with decorative baroque facade. Work began in 1578 but a giant earthquake in 1650 practically demolished the building and it wasn't finished until 1668. Interesting paintings of local weddings show plenty of period detail, whilst the catacombs beneath the church are worth exploring and the view from the second floor choir area worth climbing a set of rickety steps to see.

Plaza de Armas
Free admission.

Coricancha and Santo Domingo
The Inca Sun Temple, Coricancha, was the centre of the Inca religion. The building was once lavishly decorated with gold plates and precious stones, but the Spanish Conquistadors pillaged the site and gave the temple to the Dominicans, who built the monastery of Santo Domingo on top of it. In 1950 an earthquake destroyed the monastery, but left the Inca stonework, some of the finest masonry in Peru, undamaged.

Plazoleta Santo Domingo
Admission charge.

Iglesia de San Blas
This simple adobe church contains a breathtakingly intricate carved cedar-wood pulpit, the detail of which includes a cherub, a sun-disc, faces and bunches of grapes. At the top stands St Paul, his foot resting on a skull believed to belong to the craftsman responsible for the carving. The church also has a baroque gold-leafed alter.

Plaza San Blas
Admission charge.

Museo Inka
This impressive colonial house stands on Inca foundations. Inside is a massive stairway guarded by sculptures of mythical creatures, and an attractive courtyard. Most importantly, the museum houses the finest collection of Inca artefacts in the city. Metal- and gold-work, jewellery, pottery, ceramics, textiles and paintings are all on display. There is also a reconstructed burial chamber containing several mummies.

Corner of Ataud and Tucumán
Tel: (84) 237380.
Admission charge.