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THE “7 STREETS” IN CUSCO

THE "7 STREETS" IN CUSCO

The 7 Streets

Cusco beholds many mysteries in it’s region, however, the urban area that is now the city’s downtown and surroundings don’t fall behind on this matter.

Today, Natourandes will share with you information about the 7 Streets in Cusco that are named after the number 7 and how to get to each of these streets taking the principal Plaza, main square or “Plaza de Armas” as a reference point, is no big mystery that the city was shaped by occult cult members like the Illuminati, such is the case with the denominated “Admiral’s House”, the person that gave this place the name was the Admiral Juan Álvarez Maldonado (who was rumored to be a high ranking member of this cult), yet, before it was one of the many properties that Diego de Almagro adjudicated for his after the city’s conquest.

Speculation leads many to believe that these streets guard a occult meaning. And now we’ll be delving with a bit more of detail into these iconic streets so you’ll be able to appreciate them for your visit in Cusco.

For further detail and if you’re curious about this subject. You can check Angel Carreño’s book that delivers more on this subject.

Siete Borregos (7 Lambs)

Out of the 7 streets, this might be the most popular currently, expect encountering many tourists at this spot!

This street was a slope for the populace who went to wash rags and baskets in the Choqe-Chaka stream, carrying their sheep behind them. This street in particular was completely remodeled during the pandemic and now is considered the most “instagrammable” street in the city’s downtown.

The 7 Lambs street is one of the most recent popular stops in the city of Cusco.
Out of the 7 streets, the 7 Lambs street is the most popular in Cusco’s city.

Siete Angelitos (7 Little Angels)

This is a special case out of the 7 streets in Cusco, this street is part of the neighbourhood of San Blas, if one gives attention to the detail here, a set of 7 small angels figures or cherubs are noticeable by the second house’s roof eave. These paintings were ordered by Blas de Bobadilla, the house’s owner. This person was close to the local parish, which helped to stablish the name.

Siete Diablitos (7 Little Devils)

The origin behind this street’s name, which comes to be a counterpart of the previous cited street, is supposedly because of the 7 capital sins. Also, it’s said that since it was hard for young couples to have an open relationship in the past, this street served as an encounter point since this alley is a bit hidden in the San Blas neighbourhood. This is true to some degree, out of the 7 streets from this article this is the hardest to encounter.

This alley served as a hidden encountering point for many couples through the 20th century.
This alley served as a hidden encountering point for many couples through the 20th century.

Siete Ventanas (7 Windows)

This name, which is preserved to this day, is given to the street on the corner of the “Cuesta del Alabado” and in front of the ruins of the temple of San Agustín, currently occupied by the Marriott hotel in Cusco.

It is assumed that behind the tabernacle of said temple there was a building with four large windows and three small ones that gave the street its name, although currently the structure no longer reflects this fact.

Siete Cuartones (7 Stringers)

This street owes it name to 7 stone stringers with the shape of scantlings. These were aligned over the flux of Huatanay’s River (which still runs under the city’s roads to this day) and next to a bridge that used to be next to the “petitions’ window”.

Siete cuartones is right around the corner of Santa Teresa Street, in fron of the Carmelites' Temple.
Siete cuartones is right around the corner of Santa Teresa Street, in front of the Carmelites’ Temple.

Siete Mascarones (7 Masks)

It is the name of a silent alley located between Almudena and the parish of Santiago. Supposedly the name is due to a Spanish foundry named Mascareñas, who with the help of his six sons made bronze pieces with caryatids, called “carones”, usually for churches.

When people asked what the street was called, they were told that that street was the street of the seven Mascareñas, a name that was deformed over time to what we know today.

Siete Culebras (7 Snakes)

According to Carreño’s book, this street was part of a then declined Plaza Nazarenas, it had the name of “Amaru Ccata” during the Incan times due to the 14 snakes that were carved in the school’s (or Yachaywasi in Quechua) structure. These snakes can still be appreciated to the present day.

Also, as an extra fact, the reason behind these carved snakes and their link with education is because the snake was a symbol for wisdom for the Inca culture.

The carved snakes in this structure denoted an educational building.
The carved snakes in this structure denoted a building destined for education purposes.

Conclusion

Undoubtedly Cusco is home for a lot of mysteries, the 7 streets are just another piece that confirms this. Natourandes is aware of the several enigmas that are present in this unique city and surely is up to share this information and much more!

Find out more by contacting us for your future trip to this wonderful country.