ABSTRACT
The Cathedral of Cuzco ranks among the masterpieces of Spanish colonial architecture in Peru. Dating from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it exhibits a harmonious integration of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque elements. The original design of 1582 by the famous Spanish architect Francisco Becerra (d. 1605) is believed to have been modified in 1598; and other changes were introduced in subsequent years, until its completion in 1654 and final consecration in 1668. During the Spanish colonial period (1532–1821) and in modern times, repeated earthquakes caused various degrees of damage requiring different restoration interventions. This paper examines the restoration after the great earthquake of 1950 and the 1997–2002 implementation of a new master plan for the restoration and conservation of the Cathedral and its art treasures. It is hoped that the lessons to be derived from these interventions will provide valuable insights for future restorations of historic buildings in Cuzco and elsewhere in the Andean region.
