The Four Busts House, Cusco

The House of the Four Busts in Cusco stands as a notable example of Spanish colonial architecture seamlessly integrated with the ancient Inca foundations. This historically rich mansion is located in the center of Cusco. Its proximity to the Main Square (Plaza Mayor) allows easy access for visitors, with a brief seven-minute walk from Portal Belén through Loreto Street and Maruri Street leading directly to the mansion.

Originally inhabited by Francisco Pizarro, the mansion later became the residence of Marquis Don Juan Salas y Valdez, who added a second floor and adorned the exterior facade with four stone-carved busts of his family, symbolizing their noble status and Spanish heritage. These busts depict Marquis Don Juan de Salas, his wife Usenda Bazan, their son Fernando Salas, and his wife Leonor de Tordoya Palomino, positioned around a central coat of arms featuring a castle, lion, fleur-de-lis, blades, and sword, crowned by a lion.

Today, the building serves as the Inka Palace (Palacio Inka) hotel, a name that honors its ancestral and cultural origins. The hotel retains the mansion’s original charm, with a façade that boasts the distinctive colonial design and the iconic busts. Upon entering, visitors are welcomed into a courtyard framed by stone arches, adorned with floral and artistic details, reflecting the mansion’s historical legacy and its role in the cultural amalgamation that occurred during the Spanish conquest of Peru. This site not only encapsulates a piece of Cusco’s colonial past but also serves as a living museum, telling the story of its time through architecture and artistry.