Artsy San Blas, Cusco’s Most Picturesque Neighborhood
The most colorful neighborhood in Cusco is San Blas, which is easily found just four blocks from the city’s main square. It’s a bit of a steep uphill walk (especially for someone still adjusting to the city’s high altitude), but the effort wins you great views overlooking the city and has earned San Blas the nickname of the balcony of Cusco. It also boasts some of the Cusco’s most notable restaurants and bars as well as Saturday art fairs.
The narrow, meandering cobblestone streets are lined with colonial buildings that share the same white stucco, blue balconies with flower pots, and red tiled roofs. Almost every other door is an art studio, gallery or shop. You’ll notice displays of all sorts of arts and crafts, from ceramics to religious paintings to dolls. The most well-known studio is that of the Mendívil family, known for their long-necked archangels.
Art-loves will want to be sure to stop by the 16th century Church of San Blas in Plaza San Blas. It’s the oldest parish church in the city, built over an Inca shrine to the god of thunder and lightning. Inside, you’ll find that the simple church hides an ornate, giant churriguresque pulpit carved from a single cedar trunk by an unknown master.
San Blas has been the artists’ district of Cusco since before the arrival of the Spanish. In pre-Columbian times it was known as T’oqo-kachi (Salt Hollow) and was inhabited by Quechua nobility and mitimaes, pilgrim artisans brought to the center empire.
If you’re one of those free-spirited travelers who choose San Blas as their base in Cusco, then you’re in luck- not only is Pirwa San Blas well-located, but we have a new surprise coming up in San Blas in the coming weeks!