Cusco: South of the Plaza de Armas

Plaza Regocijo

V!VA User‘s Description

Cusco, south of its Plaza de Armas, is noteworthy for its historic houses, particularly the 16^th century Valleumbroso mansion on Márquez, just before the Plaza de San Francisco, with its rows of columns and private courtyard. Other historical homes worth visiting include the Peralta, de Silva, and Pumas homes.  This area also has its own Plazas, most notably the Plaza Regocijo, or Plaza of Elation, an allusion to the previous Incan designation of this area as Cusipata, or Patio of Happiness. There are also a number of historic churches worth visiting here, most notably the San Francisco Monastery, officially still in use, but open to the public as a museum.  Here, too, is where you will find the Santa Ana Railroad Station that will take you through the Sacred Valley towards Machu Picchu.