{"id":5339,"date":"2020-07-25T01:36:24","date_gmt":"2020-07-25T06:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/?p=5339"},"modified":"2026-05-12T10:44:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T15:44:08","slug":"havent-you-visited-the-archways-of-plaza-de-armas-of-cusco-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/havent-you-visited-the-archways-of-plaza-de-armas-of-cusco-yet","title":{"rendered":"Haven\u2019t you visited the Archways of Plaza de Armas of Cusco yet?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/plaza-de-armas-of-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Plaza de Armas of Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is surrounded by archways constructions. It may sound unbelievable, but many local people don\u2019t know the true origin of the archways that decorate the plaza of this beautiful city. Now, our challenge will be not only to learn the name of the<\/span><b> \u201c8 archways of Plaza de Armas of Cusco\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but also the exact location of each one of them. We are pretty sure that behind each name there is a great story to be told and shared with you<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Location and altitude:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Archways of Plaza de Armas are located in the surrounding of Plaza de Armas. They are at an altitude of 3 399 m.a.s.l.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Climate:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/plaza-de-armas-of-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Plaza de Armas of Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has two distinct seasons: dry and rainy. Dry season is from May to October. Rainy season is from November to April.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2289\" style=\"width: 880px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2289\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2289\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Plaza-de-armas-cusco.webp\" alt=\"Plaza de Armas del Cusco\" width=\"870\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-2289\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>Plaza de Armas of Cusco<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><b>History of the \u201c8 archways of Plaza de Armas of Cusco\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we talk about the archways of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/plaza-de-armas-of-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Plaza de Armas of Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> all our attention goes to the memories of these beautiful structures that decorate the main square of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/the-10-best-tours-in-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Probably, many of you who have visited the archways are wondering if you should have spent more time observing them when you had the chance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Truth is that there are now eight archways, but during the colonial period there were only seven. So, what happened? Let\u2019s let history reveal the mystery:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3505230926454944\" data-ad-slot=\"3247790964\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h3><b>1.- Meat Archway (Portal de carnes):<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will be the first archway that you will see. It is located on the right of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/museums-that-you-should-visit-in-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Cathedral of Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. According to some historical facts, it may have been built before the Family Chapel. During the colonial period, it received the name of <\/span><b>Archway of the commissioner of the Inquisition.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It kept the name until 1895 approximately. After that year it was called <\/span><b>Meat Archway or Portal de Carnes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/plaza-de-armas-of-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Plaza de Armas of Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> served as a market in the past. And it was in this archway that many customers could buy meat. That is the reason of the name this archway received.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5157\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5157\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5157\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Portal-de-Carnes-3-1.webp\" alt=\"Portal de Carnes\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5157\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Meat Archway<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><b>2.- Archway of Flour (Portal de harinas):<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second archway that you will see is the <\/span><b>Archway of Flour<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><b>Portal de Harinas.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It is named after what locals did there. They sold flour of wheat, corn, peas, chu\u00f1o and jora (corn). This last one was the main ingredient to prepare the sacred drink of the Incas, the famous \u201cchicha de jora\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formerly, this archway was known as <\/span><b>Marble Portal of Carbajal. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was because <\/span><b>Don Francisco de Carvajal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, better known as <\/span><b>\u201cthe Andes demon\u201d, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">house was there .<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to history, Don Francisco was part of the army force of Gonzalo Pizarro during the Battle of Jaquijahuana in Anta in 1548. Following the defeat of the battle, Pedro de La Gasca ordered the beheading and dismembering of Don Francisco. Parts of his body were taken to four strategic points at the entrance of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/things-you-can-do-while-acclimating-to-the-altitude\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> city.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A while after that, the king of Spain ordered to demolish Don Francisco house and as a replacement of it he placed salt and a tombstone with the inscription <\/span><b>\u201ccrown traitor\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5159\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5159\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5159\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Portal-de-harinas-1.webp\" alt=\"Portal de Harinas\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5159\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Archway of Flour<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<p><b>Note:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Battle of Jaquijahuana confronted the army force of Gonzalo Pizarro and royalist forces headed by Pedro de la Gasca on April 9, 1548. They fought against each other in order to control the Viceroyalty of Peru during the Great Rebellion of the messengers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3505230926454944\" data-ad-slot=\"3247790964\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h3><b>3.- Archway of Bread (Portal de panes)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the colonial period this archway was known as <\/span><b>Kasana <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and likewise the first 2 archways it was named after what people could do there, buy bread.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is remarkable that the houses on this archway were built on the Inca\u00a0 Pachacuteq palace, which years later served as Francisco Pizarro\u2019s enemies prison.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Interesting Fact:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some years later, Bread Archway was named as <\/span><b>\u201cArchway of slaps\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It was named that way since Benito Suarez Carbajal slapped Franciscan priest Orriam\u00fan for not letting a young woman buy bread. He wanted to make a good impression.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5162\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5162\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5162\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Portal-de-panes-1.webp\" alt=\"Portal de panes\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5162\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Archway of bread<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><b>4.- Archway of Confituria:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/plaza-de-armas-of-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Plaza de Armas of Cusco<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> used to be a market, many merchants tried to find a place to sell their products in the different archways. At the beginning, Confituria archway was called <\/span><b>Confeder\u00eda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> since many merchants sold meals (fried animal guts) at low cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As time went by, it was called <\/span><b>Archway of Confitur\u00eda<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> thanks to a woman of dark complexion who sold delicious nougat nad candies in the interior of the archway. It is said that during the <\/span><b>Corpus Christi <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of Cusco this archway used to be the most visited because of the sweets.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5.- Archway of Commerce:<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the time of emancipation, the place was named as <\/span><b>archway of<\/b> <b>Rag-and-bone men<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It changed the name because of the overseas products that were sold by Jewish and Spanish people. Among the products that were sold, you could find\u00a0 handkerchiefs of the finest fabric. They were sold very fast since women of the time loved them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5161\" style=\"width: 875px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5161\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5161\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Portal-del-Comercio.webp\" alt=\"Portal del Comercio\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5161\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><b><i>Archway of Commerce<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/div>\n<h3><b>6.- Archway of the Company (Portal de la Compa\u00f1\u00eda):<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was formerly called <\/span><b>Archway of the Tailors.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> But it changed when the Jesuit temple was inaugurated with 50 friars. They settled in the three cloisters of the convent. The construction of this convent was directed by Pietro and Ludovico Maieroni brothers, both architects and Jesuit priests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3505230926454944\" data-ad-slot=\"3247790964\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: A story tells that a great treasure is hidden in the vault of the lower choir.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>7.- Archway of the Reeds (Portal of the carrizos)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the only archway that keeps its original name. It was named Archway of the Reeds after the selling of reeds and wood that took place in this part of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/plaza-de-armas-of-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>Plaza de Armas of Cusco<\/b><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/es\/plaza-de-armas-del-cusco\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"><b>.<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The product that was on sale served to built houses and roofs of the old city of Cusco.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Archway of the Reeds is located on the left side of the cathedral. To find it easily, try going to the where \u201c<\/span><b>Casa del maestro\u201d (Teacher&#8217;s house) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5163\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Portal-de-carrizo.webp\" alt=\"Portal de Carrizos\" width=\"865\" height=\"400\" \/><b><i>Archway of the Reeds<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><b>8.- Archway of Belen (Portal de Bel\u00e9n):<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was named after the <\/span><b>Virgin of Belen<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who possesses the title of <\/span><b>\u201cPatron of Armas and the city of Cusco\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Many of its devotees agreed the decision taken by bishop Juan Alonzo Boc\u00f3n.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This archway is located on Triunfo street, next to the Cathedral of Cusco<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-8066 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/portal-belen.webp\" alt=\"Portal belen \" width=\"815\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/portal-belen.webp 815w, https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/portal-belen-768x377.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/portal-belen-600x294.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/portal-belen-560x275.webp 560w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Note:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> To start the tour of the archways that surround Plaza de Armas of Cusco, we should place ourselves on the corner of the street that leads us to Inca Museum.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Best season to visit:<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best season to visit Cusco and the 8 archways that surround the Plaza\u00a0 is during the <\/span><b>dry season<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, from May to October. Why is that? This is because there is less rain and the roads are safer. You will also enjoy the clear, blue sky of Cusco. However, we recommend bringing warm clothes for mornings and nights because they are colder. If you arrive from June to August, you will be able to attend the traditional parties, see colorful streets, and try the delicious typical food.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Inkayni Tips:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring your passport with you all the time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arrive in Cusco during the dry season.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wear a hat and sunscreen to prevent from sun damage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take your camera with you.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can visit the 8 archway while acclimating to the altitude, before doing any other tour.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have some cash with you, preferable local currency.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2610\" src=\"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/inkayni-1.png\" alt=\"Inkayni\" width=\"254\" height=\"99\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Plaza de Armas of Cusco is surrounded by archways constructions. It may sound unbelievable, but many local people don\u2019t know the true origin of the archways that decorate the plaza of this beautiful city. Now, our challenge will be not only to learn the name of the \u201c8 archways of Plaza de Armas of Cusco\u201d, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5163,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[826],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[624],"class_list":["post-5339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cusco-sacred-valley","author-adminbloginkayni-en"],"acf":[],"views":3558,"authors":[{"term_id":624,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"adminbloginkayni-en","display_name":"adminbloginkayni","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5339","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5339"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5339\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14362,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5339\/revisions\/14362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5339"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5339"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5339"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inkayniperutours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5339"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}