The plaza is the heart of the city. Colonnaded on all sides, the Cathedral is on the northeast corner facing the La Compania de Jesus church on the southeast. Tiny streets, some pedestrian only, lead off the plaza, originally the Wacaypata, where the Inca Pachacutec had his palace.
The Incas had an organized society in which everyone had a role to play, and a function to perform. Ama Sua, Ama Quella, Ama Lulla was the greeting to visitors to the city, and exhorted them ?Don?t lie, don?t steal, don?t be lazy.? The results of their artisanry and building techniques are seen everywhere, and have outlasted numerous earthquakes.