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One more church? Uphill?
No thanks.
Not wanting to make the uphill journey to San Cristobal, the final church on our Religious Ticket, a compromise was made to visit Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, located in the Plaza de Armas instead…especially when we found out that admission was free on that day.
Of course, I had come to expect the No Photos rule by this time, and I was getting a little tired of seeing so many churches. (Yes, I actually said this!)
But…free is free.
This massive church, commissioned by the Jesuits in 1571 and constructed in 1576, offers one of the best examples of Spanish Baroque architecture in Peru. Competing effectively with the Cathedral on the northeast side of the plaza, the church has two bell towers and is connected to the Jesuit’s University of San Ignacia de Loyola.
Though construction was begun in 1576, on the grounds of the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac, the church was badly damaged in the earthquake of 1650. The present day building was finally completed, 18 years later, in 1668.
Some of the most notable pieces and features of the church include a painting of the Transfiguration of Christ at the high altar by Jesuit Diego de la Puente and a painting depicting the wedding of artín García de Loyola, the nephew of Ignatius Loyola with Beatriz (great-niece of the Inca ruler Tupac Amaru). In the Sacristy are sculptures by Melchor Huaman Mayta of the saints San Jeronimo and San Francisco.
What I enjoyed the most, however, were the two towers. Though the ascent was slow, allowing for the descent of other visitors on the narrow stairway, it was worth the steep climb, for the views looking out over the Plaza and the adjacent Cathedral. You can also access the balcony from the left tower which allows visibility of the church’s interior.
If you have a few minutes, duck in for a quick look at this historical church…the access to the towers is absolutely worth your time!
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Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús
- Address: Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru
- Hours: 0900-1130 and 1300-1730, daily
- Admission: S/ 15