When the Spanish colonial troops began the conquest of Peru, city Cuzco was one of the strongholds of power in the Inca Empire. Its inhabitants are fiercely defended, twice the city passed from hand to hand, before the Inca in 1536 retreated. The Catholic Church has taken very seriously the construction of the Cathedral in such an important colonial city in the region. Cathedral of Santo Domingo, which is also called the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, was built with care and attention to detail, while construction continued for over a century. Today the Cathedral is one of the most important and popular tourist destinations in Cuzco, and because of its importance in the history of the city, and because of its beautiful architecture.

During the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in Cusco the most important and visible Church in the city was the Koricancha temple, dedicated to the sun God Inti. Many historians believe that this temple was the most sacred to the Inca Empire. The Spaniards decided on the site of the temple of the Incas to build his Cathedral, and used a large portion of the building material, examining the Koricancha temple. Today visitors can still see a small amount of the ruined walls of the temple of the Incas near the rear of the Cathedral.

A small Church known as the Church of Triumph, was built in 1536, shortly after the city was conquered. But as soon as the Spanish authorities in these territories established in the city began to build a much more grandiose and impressive Cathedral. The plans were drawn up by the Spanish architect Juan-Miguel-de Veramendi. The Cathedral was built in Gothic and Renaissance style that was typical of Spanish religious architecture in that time. Although there are some signs of the presence of Inca influence in the religious symbolism of the building, including the head of a Jaguar on the main door of the Cathedral. The construction of the Cathedral began in 1559. The majority of the population of the Incas was used for carrying out heavy work in the construction process of the temple.

Over the centuries the Cathedral has become home to several important religious artifacts, including the famous statue of the Black Christ, which is dark with candles for several centuries. It is believed that this statue helped the Church to survive and to survive after a devastating earthquake in 1650. On the right tower of the Cathedral is a large bell Maria Angola bell, over 2 meters high, weighing about 6 tons. Its ringing can be heard at the distance of twenty miles. The Cathedral houses an impressive collection of art spanning several centuries, including paintings 1650, which are the oldest in the city.