| By :
Ken Ingraham
If you decide to take Spanish classes in Peru, you will find many opportunities for sightseeing. When in Cusco, you will definitely want to tour the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, also known as the Cusco Cathedral. This local landmark is a beautiful Gothic building with a rich history and an important art collection. Touring the cathedral is sure to be one of your favorite memories from your time at Spanish school in Cusco. Thanks to its prominence on one of Cusco's main roads, the Avenida de Sol, the cathedral is simple to locate.. This impressive building cannot be missed when you are touring through the city. It is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco. Next to the Cusco Cathedral, you will also find the Iglesa del Triunto. This building is important because it was the first Christian church to be built in the area. What is interesting to note is that on the same site there was previously an Incan temple called Kiswarkancha. About 100 years before Spanish colonists came to the region, this palace was for Virachocha who was the ruler of the kingdom. After the conquistadors arrived in 1559, they replaced this ancient temple with this cathedral and built it at the foundation of Kiswarckancha. The new church took almost 100 years to complete and was finally finished in 1654. Designed by conquistador Juan Miguel de Veremendi, the Cusco Cathedral is a fine example of Gothic-Renaissance architecture. Obviously, the plan of the Spaniards was to get rid of the country's previous religions so that Christianity could to take over. They even took most of the cathedral's building materials from an Incan structure called Saqsaywaman. Further, the Incas were actually forced to work on this new religious building. While the Cusco Cathedral is shaped like a Latin cross, some Incan symbolism remained. In fact, a jaguar head adorns the door to the church, and the jaguar is an ancient religious icon. In 1983, the Cusco Cathedral was listed as a UNSECO World Heritage Site. Not only is it a religious center, but also a lot of the colonial art from the city is kept there on display. One of the intriguing relics on display in the Cathedral is the Black Christ. Blackened by exposure to centuries of smoke and dust, today this relic presents an interesting portrait of a dark-skinned Christ. There is also the Maria Angola Bell, which is a huge bell on the Cathedral's right tower. Although this bell is cracked, it is still rung every so often. There is also stunning artwork from the Cusco school of Art, which was created by the Spanish to teach the Incans about art. Other notable works include the Christ's 12 Parables and the Vincente de Valverde. When you attend Spanish school in Cusco, be sure to visit this amazing 16th century building. Not only will you be impressed by the art and architecture, but also you will learn a bit of history. Visiting this Cathedral will be one of the most memorable experiences that you take away from your time attending Spanish classes in Peru.
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