Hatun Rumiyoc Street and the Twelve-Angled Stone

About this place

A narrow pedestrian street in old Cusco whose Quechua name means «street of the great stone», running between two walls, one an original Inca wall of huge, irregularly shaped stones cut to fit together with astonishing precision and no mortar at all; it was part of a palace of an Inca ruler. The wall's most famous block is the «Twelve-Angled Stone», a large stone carved so that its twelve angles match the stones around it perfectly; it has become a symbol of the Inca builders' skill, and visitors gather in front of it for photos. The street is part of an old route climbing from the main square to San Blas, the craftsmen's quarter, with narrow uphill lanes, white houses with blue doors, carving and painting workshops, small cafés and fine views over the city. It is free and always open, and crowded by day. A man in Inca costume sometimes stands by the stone offering photos for a tip. Do not handle the stones much; they are protected heritage.