The Seven Traditional Streets of Cusco

The historic centre of the city of Cusco is full of history and curious details. In this post we will talk about The Seven traditional streets of Cusco. The seven streets that begin with the number seven.

This number is considered sacred in many cultures. Among the Incas, the number 7 is linked, among other things, to the rainbow, one of the most important natural phenomena in their vision of the world. Moreover, coincidentally or not, the seven colours of the rainbow are represented on the flag of the city of Cusco, the ancient Inca capital.

The ceben sacraments of the Church, the seven notes of music, the seven Wonders of the World, ancient and modern, the seven dwarves and others.

Do you want to know more? We’ll tell you:

1.- Seven Little Angels or Siete Angelitos

Siete Angelitos It is located in the San Blas neighbourhood, joining Tandapata and Carmen Alto streets.

Where did the name come from: The figure of seven angels painted on the roof of an old house by order of Blas de Bobadilla, a resident of the area. Seeing them is a challenge due to their small size, but not impossible.
Daniel Estrada Perez ordered the image of the angel to hold the number 7 in his hands.

2.- Seven Little Devils or Siete Diablitos

And since everything must have a balance, Siete Diablitos Street could not be absent. Located one block from Kiskapata. There is an old story that many young lovers used to meet in this narrow street.

Seeing that it was a street little traveled, they gave free rein to their low instincts. Where they said they were tempted by the devil and generally the women went out pregnant.
The name of this street is due to the seven deadly sins. Nowadays it is a very busy street for tourists. Would you dare to walk down this street?

3.- Seven Windows or Siete Ventanas

Calle Siete Ventanas Formerly the convent of San Agustín (Cusco) was located in this place and the convent had four large windows and three small ones. Although today the site has been destroyed but the name still remains. You find it in the San Blas neighborhood, as a continuation of Runas Street.

4.- Seven Snakes or Siete Culebras

Siete Culebras Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful streets in Cusco. In the Inca period it was called Amaru Ccata and wand is located between Choquechaca streets and Plazoneta Nazarenas.

Therefore, on the walls of the current Casa de las Sirenas, 14 snakes can be found engraved in relief, 7 on each side. Nowadays you can still find them, with a little patience and a good eye.

5.- Seven Cuartons or Siete Cuartones

Siete Cuartones It is located one block from the Plaza de Armas of Cusco, Its name is due to 7 stone stringers in the form of quarters aligned from stretch to stretch on the River Saphy that was next to the bridge of lime and stone that ordered to be built by Don Diego de Vargas y Carbajal.

At present of the 7 stringers that existed in this place, you can only see the one that remains on Saphy Street; the others were lost with the advance of the new city.

6.- Seven Little Lambs or Siete Borreguitos

Seven Little Lambs or Siete Borreguitos It is a very beautiful and picturesque inclined street. It is known by this name (Siete Borreguitos) because it was the route that the locals used to travel with their packages and animals, including sheep. Go down from Pumacurco slope to Choquechaca street.

7.- Siete Mascarones or Seven Masks

Siete Mascarones It is the only street outside the historic centre, in the Santiago neighbourhood (Cusco). The name is given by an old inhabitant, Mr. Mascareñas, who with his six children worked smelting copper to make all kinds of things, from ornaments for church doors to nails used in construction.