Cusco History Mural

Location of the Cusco History Mural

The Mural History of Cusco is considered the largest mural in South America, when it was inaugurated 27 years ago, a magnificent fresco, pictorial and unique work, fifty meters long by six meters high is exhibited in the avenue El Sol of Cusco. This important work was made by the Cusquenian artist Juan Bravo Vizcarra.

It is considered the largest mural in South America and is located in the 9th block of El Sol Avenue, the busiest road in the Imperial City of Cusco, which goes from the Plaza de Armas to Pumaqchupan or "Cola del Puma".

It has been painted on a concrete block and rises to a height of two meters. Above this majestic construction stands the fresco that "was executed in nine months, not a day more or less, as it takes a human being to come into the world" says its author in his work.

How was the Cusco History Mural made?

To make this majestic mural was used paint brought from Mexico, whose pigment is integrated with a synthetic resin, this being a polymerized medium to bind the hue. The mural represents the history of Cusco from prehistoric times to the present day, covering a period of three thousand years, there are represented the most significant events in Inca history.

"Each character has the clothing of each era," says Bravo, emphasizing that some of them took license in their representation, showing Pachacutec as the central character under the God Inti (Sun).

Scenes from the Cusco History Mural

The mural has several scenes. The first begins with the cultures prior to the Tahuantinsuyo, where the domestication of auquenidos such as alpacas, and the planting of crops such as quinoa, oca, fruits, as well as the invention of fire and the mastery of metals and the mastery of stone are shown. The author points out that this scene concludes with the presence of the four Ayar brothers, founders of the Incanato, who "are four couples with different skills and trades".

The second painting presents the development of the Inca civilization, with scenes of the construction of Andean roads like the bridges of brave straw where caravans of llamas pass, the work of carving and transfer of gigantic stones, the dominion of the hills with the construction of platforms and the great advances in medicine like the trepanations of skulls, as well as the representation of great ceremonies like the Inti Raymi and other representative festivities of the Incas.

The next picture of the mural of the history of Cusco shows "the arrival of the Spaniards, with flags, banners, banners of the king of Spain, represented by a centaur, half horse and half Spanish warrior, with iron armor.

"The church is represented by a Dominican priest with a grim face, also appearing the 'alanos', dogs crossed with mastiffs that only ate human flesh," says the author. In this scene are also represented -among others- the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the bishop Mollinedo y Angulo and the mestizo painter Diego Quispe Tito; in addition to scenes of torture.

The following scene shows the uprising in the village of Tinta of the precursor José Gabriel Condorcanqui, Túpac Amaru II, and the torture of which he was victim with four horses. Juan Bravo explains that "the four are centaurs that represent the Spanish crown, the church, the military force and the landowners", showing also the god K'uychi (Rainbow) that with his hair links the following scene that is the passage to the Independence and the Peruvian Republic.

This last scene shows the precursors, among them the Cusquenian Agustín Gamarra, who was Bolívar's prefect, as well as the first days of independent Peru with its new industries, the advance of arts and crafts, and ends with a round of children of all social classes and ethnic groups that "promise to forge a developed and prosperous Cusco".

At the end, the artist specifies that "the mural closes with an Inkari, that is to say, the majestic rebirth, who with chest held high faces the future with confidence and courage, showing a copy of a book published by the Provincial Municipality of Cusco, which gives an account of the mural of the history of the Imperial City".

Tours that include your visit

Take the City Tour Cusco with us and see the Mural History of Cusco.