12May
Cusco is one of the most incredible cities in South America, very peculiar and unique in the world; both for its Inca past and for its cultural and architectural miscegenation; since the people who know Cusco literally end up in love with the city, for its mysteries, its customs and traditions. The Historic Center of the city of Cusco is full of unusual stories and details; among them 7 streets whose names will really surprise you; some keep secrets, others were named for the uses they had at a certain point in their history.
In the Imperial City of Cusco there are seven streets whose names begin with the number 7 and for many this cabalistic number has colonial influence, for others the number 7 comes from pre-Inca and Inca times. Like the Incas; Other cultures of the world were convinced that the stars had a decisive influence on the life and behavior of human beings.
The book “Tourist Routes of Cusco” by Armando Valenzuela Lovón indicates that: “7 is a metaphysical and inexplicable number in Andean culture, as in many other important cultures of the world”; It seems to be no coincidence that there are 7 deadly sins, 7 the sacraments of the church, 7 musical notes, 7 wonders of the ancient world, 7 wonders of the modern world; one of them is Machupicchu and it is located in Cusco, a city that has 7 streets whose names begin with the number 7, the number seven has always been related to the divine, that is why CUSCO PERU TRIPS will let you know what they are These 7 mysterious streets that exist in the city of Cusco we have:
The seven little angels street is curiously located at the intersection with the seven little devils street and to the right of Carmen Alto, the name is due to the fact that in this street you can see the faces of seven little angels on the roof, the same ones that exist until today.
These figures were painted there by order of Blas de Bobadilla; who, in addition to owning the house where these figures are found, was also a fervent religious. These figures serve not only as luxurious decorations but are also used for breaks in the parish Corpus Christi procession and often go unnoticed due to their location.
One of the most picturesque streets and best known by many lovers of yesteryear and that when walking through it gives the impression that it is getting narrower and narrower, located in the continuation of Kiskapata Street in the neighborhood of San Blas, the old Inca neighborhood of Tokocachi, it has the story that thanks to its narrow street, its poor lighting during the day and its remote location from the city center, young couples met in them to snuggle under the temptation of the devil or that many women returned from this street “pregnant”.
These are some of the stories that we have about this street, which is why the name it bears originates from; Currently it has lost the charm of couples to see each other secretly since it is a busy street, but there are still some lovers who do not lose hope of finding their better half.
It is a small alley located between Almudena and the parish of Santiago; where the house of a Spanish founder surnamed Mascareñas who worked as a craftsman was located. He and his 6 children worked in the foundry of bronze, copper and other metals; most of them convex with caryatids (columns shaped like statues). Most of the designs were intended as decorations for church doors, nails for street doors, bells, etc. Where they are preserved to this day, this family was called the seven Mascarones, and it was with that denomination that that street was so busy by people who were looking for works of art made by the family; today the street is a bit neglected but the history of that family remains in its name.
This street is found going up from Calle Sapi with the corner of Calle Tigre; where the convent of Santa Teresa and the park of the mother are located and ends at Meloc street. The origin of its name is due to 7 stone beams in the form of largeros placed next to the lime and stone bridge that Don Diego de Vargas y Carbajal ordered to build at that time, which were located on the Saphy river; which currently passes under Av. El Sol in Cusco.
These paddocks were placed end to end and to the side of the petition window as well. There were once 7 stone pads that adorned the street and today there is only one left on Saphy Street, almost on the corner with 7 pads; apparently the winds, the weather and the lack of care took care of most of them disappearing.
It is the first street that joins the streets Pumaq-Kurkun (today called Pumacurco) and Choquechaca; In addition, it connects the Huaca de Sapantiana in San Blas with the neighborhood of San Cristóbal. Along its route, this street has a steep slope where settlers used to descend carrying cargo in pack animals such as: Sheep, llamas and alpacas (generally sheep); likewise baskets with clothes to wash in the Tullumayu river.
The street was remodeled several times for better walkability; but still from time to time you can see llamas and alpacas that go to the temple of San Cristóbal; so that visitors to the city of Cusco can take photos of the women in their typical costumes and the girls who carry baby sheep on their backs.
Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful streets in Cusco that joins the Nazarenas square with Choquechaca street; where there is an arch of colonial origin that indicated the old limits between the Spanish Cusco and the indigenous Cusco (limit with the parish of San Blas). This street was formerly called Amaru CCatta alley; named after the 14 snakes engraved in relief on the stone wall of the Yachay wasi school; today called Palacio Nazarenas or house of the sirens, due to the ostentatious shield that it presents on the front of its door.
7 of these snakes are found on the front of the square and another 7 in the alley; This alley is surrounded by tall buildings, which is why the sun reaches the ground only at noon and you can have a good view of a whole thin strip of blue mountain color. Although the passage of time deteriorated some of the sculpted snakes, you can still find all of them, of course if you have a good eye, a lot of patience and luck.
