Hotels near Calle Hatunrumiyoc and the Twelve-Angled Stone

Calle Hatunrumiyoc is a narrow pedestrian lane whose left wall is an original Inca construction - the outer wall of the palace of Inca Roca, the sixth Sapa Inca. The wall extends for roughly 100 metres and features massive stone blocks fitted together without mortar, each one shaped to interlock with its neighbours at irregular angles. The most celebrated block is the Twelve-Angled Stone (Piedra de los Doce Angulos), a single boulder cut with twelve corners and twelve corresponding joints, each flush against the surrounding stones with no gaps. No adhesive holds it in place. The wall is part of what is now the Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop's Palace), which houses the Museo de Arte Religioso.

Viewing the stone is free - it sits in the open street wall, usually with a guard standing nearby. The street is accessible at any hour, but expect a small crowd during peak daylight hours. The Museo de Arte Religioso inside the palace charges 15 PEN (3.50 EUR) and displays colonial-era religious paintings and silverwork in rooms built on Inca foundations. You can combine this stop naturally with the walk up to San Blas.

Pro Tip: Run your fingertips along the joints between the stones (gently). The precision is tactile - you will struggle to fit a sheet of paper between the blocks. This physical contact with 600-year-old engineering communicates something that photographs simply cannot.