The place where the main square of Cusco is located, was in ancient times a swampy area, which during the time of the Incas was dried and transformed into an administrative, cultural and religious center of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire, after the conquest was occupied by the Spaniards, who surrounded it with temples and residences that were built on buildings and foundations of ancient Inca palaces and constructions; Tupac Amaru II was executed in the main square of the city of Cusco in 1781. It is currently the core of Cusco, and is surrounded by jewelers, travel agencies, tourist restaurants, and the same temples of the period of the conquest, merging the Andean and Hispanic architecture.
Controversy by the name of the main aquare of Cusco
The true Quechua name with which it was called the current
main aquare
of Cusco, at the time of the Incas, is still unknown. Authors such as María Rostworowski claim that she was called Aucaypata, place of the warrior; Other authors such as Víctor Angles say it was Huacaypata, the place of crying, and others such as the American George Squier (in 1863) say it was called Huacapata, a sacred place.
Víctor Angles, a student of the Inca culture, explains that the square was formed by two sectors: Huacaypata and Cusipata (all coincide in the name of the latter). Both denominations would have a symbolic meaning since the first means place of crying the second means place of rejoicing (at present, that place is still called Plaza Rejoicing). According to Angles, this was due to meditation ceremonies performed by the Inca nobility in the square. These rituals ended in tears. It is currently known as Huacaypata.
Historical review
The place where the main aquare of Cusco is located, was a swampy area dried during the time of the Inca empire, using sand brought from the coasts of the Empire; the drying is initiated by the Inca Sinchi Roca, and was concluded by the Inca Pachacutec. To talk about the main square ofCusco
is to talk about a place full of history, which was initially a swamp, which over the years, became one of the main tourist attractions of the city of Cusco.
This square was the administrative, cultural and religious nucleus of the capital of Tahuantinsuyo, one of the largest empires in America and the World. With the arrival of the Spaniards, the main aquare was surrounded by temples and mansions, built on the structures of Inca palaces and buildings that existed there.
In this place, José Gabriel Condorcanqui Noguera (Túpac Amaru II) was also executed on May 18, 1781; Eminent character in Peruvian history, who revealed himself against the Spanish invasion. In the current main aquare of Cusco, you can find travel agencies, jewelers, tourist restaurants and temples dating from the colonial era.
The main aquare today
Currently, the main aquare is located in the historic center of Cusco, and is surrounded by tourist shops. The colonial temples built around it remain as such, some of them also function as museums.The buildings mostly retain some Inca walls fused with the Hispanic architecture of the colony. The importance of the area makes it one of the most expensive in the city. In some cases, renting a store can cost up to $ 1,500 per month. A few years ago, fast-food restaurants like the American company McDonald’s and others like Bembos, KFC and Starbucks opened in the place.
The main square is still the place where many of Cusco's folk festivals are celebrated, such as Santuranticuy, Semana Santa, Corpus Christi, and other more modern ones, such as national holidays, Cusco parties, New Year, etc. It also holds free concerts, some parades of institutions and allegories, as well as political rallies.
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