Cusco is a city steeped in history and culture, with every corner telling a story waiting to be uncovered. As you wander through its charming, narrow, cobblestone streets, you’ll find paths so captivating that you’ll fall in love with them instantly.
This time, we’re diving into a unique aspect of Cusco’s streets—those that connect with the number seven. Why is this number so significant, and what makes these streets special? Let’s explore the stories behind these seven streets and why they deserve a spot on your must-visit list.
Cusco and the number 7
The importance of seven has changed over time. For example, the Catholic Church includes the number in its teachings with seven days of the week, seven deadly sins, and seven sacraments. In science and the arts, Pythagorean astronomy talks about seven days a week, and music has seven notes on its scale.
In Peru and Inca culture, the number seven has its own story and meaning. Cusco’s flag has seven colors, just like the seven colors of the rainbow, and Cusco features seven famous streets to discover. The number seven holds deep symbolism in many cultures, and Cusco is no exception.
In his book “Rutas turísticas del Cusco”, Professor Armando Valenzuela Lovón says the Quechua people used to see the number seven as special and mysterious. For example, the Incas had a deep knowledge of astronomy.
They believed that stars and planets played a big role in people’s lives and actions, and recognized seven important entities that watched over their community life. Some other people say that this number may have gained its meaning from Judeo-Christian stories.
Angel Carreño, an important Cusco historian notes that these streets often have adjectival names, as they refer to myths (like serpents, angels, and devils), historical symbols (like masks and beams), or street features (like seven windows). Using small forms in these names shows the rich traditions of Cusco’s residents.
Seven Streets with 7 on it
Siete cuartones
“Siete Cuartones” comes from the seven stone beams, or “cuartones,” that once supported a bridge built by Don Diego de Vargas y Carbajal, made of lime and stone. As the city has grown, we now only have the name of this street to remind us of those original seven beams.
This name also highlights the seven stone beams that were once lined up over the old Saphy River, which now flows underneath Avenida El Sol. Nowadays, one of the seven original beams remains on Saphy Street.
Siete Cuartones Street is next to the historic Bolivariano and Educandas Ladies School, one of the oldest schools in Cusco. After a quick, 10-minute walk from the busy Plaza de Armas, you can find this street.
Siete Ventanas
According to what people say, the origin of this street’s name comes from a building behind the San Agustin temple. This building had 4 large and 3 small windows. In the current day, no building or house has seven streets on it as this street has suffered reconstruction. You can find the “7 Window Street” street 10 minutes walking from the main square.
Siete Culebras
The snake was more than just an animal in the Inca times, as they highly saw it as part of the “Andean triad” of sacred animals. For the Incas, the snake was seen as a powerful symbol of transformation, change, and wisdom. As proof that the snake meant so much to the Incas, we have the “Seven Snake Street.”
This street has 7 pairs of high-relief- snakes etched on Inca murals, and that’s where it got its name from. In total you’ll see 14 snakes on this wall. You can find this street near “Plazoleta Nazarenas,” one of the most iconic squares in the city, just 5 5-minute walk from the main plaza.
Siete Diablitos
There are multiple stories regarding the “Little Seven Devil Street.” Some say that this street was the palace where supernatural entities and humans had a connection, while others just say that, due to the hard access and poor lightning, the devil “tempted” passionate couples to commit indecent acts right in the middle of this street.
Although this street has become a little more crowded recently, this street keeps being the meeting point where some couples meet, but this time there are no records that show that they still do the “indecent acts” people did in the past.
Siete Angelitos
The “Seven Little Angel Street” is the counterpart of the previous one we talked before. Curiously, this street is in the San Blas bohemian neighborhood, on the corner of Carmen Alto Street, named after Virgen del Carmen.
There’s an ancient building in this street, built by Blas de Bobadilla a religious Cusco’s man. On the roof of this old house, on the inside part of the roof, you can see depictions of angels that this man himself painted Take the chance to take as many pictures as you can in Siete Angelitos!
Siete Mascarones
This street is located in Santiago district, near the Santiago parish and Almudena Street. A story says that an Spanish artisan called Masacreñas lived with his family on this street. He and his family used to make works in copper for churches and temples.
Unlike the other streets, we talked about before, this one is kind of neglected, but still, you can see the copper work around it. Let yourself be amazed by this street!
Siete Borreguitos
Probably this is one of Cusco’s most popular streets thanks to its aesthetic design. In the past, pack animals, including sheep used to come by this steep street. The upper part of this street was historically called Ccopapata, a Quechua word meaning “the path of ash” in Spanish, until the 1950s.
This name came from the custom of local residents dumping ash from their stoves and waste from their guinea pigs in the area. The lower section was known as Taqsanapata, a name tied to the practice of people traveling from Cusco’s downtown to wash clothes in the Puckro River, particularly mourning families who would wash the deceased’s garments there.
This ritual often marked the end of the mourning period as the clothes were distributed among family members. The name of the street itself has its origins in this activity. Many people who came to wash clothes also brought their sheep to graze and drink water nearby, leading to the initial name “Calle Borrego” (Sheep Street).
Evidence of this name remains in some of the oldest property records. Later, an important major in Cusco city changed the name of the street was officially changed to Siete Borreguitos (“Seven Little Sheep”) to align with the enigmatic group of streets in Cusco whose names begin with the number seven.
Conclusion
There’s too much to know and learn about the former capital of the Inca Empire, so we invite you to visit these vibrant and living pieces of history in our city. Keep in mind that, to know Cusco and other parts of the county, you can count on Viagens Machu Picchu.
We’re a reputable travel agency that operates around Peru and its destinations. Feel free to contact us so you can learn more about our packages, offers, and deals. Don’t put it off too long Cuso and its vibrant streets are waiting for you!
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