The Inca in the Plaza: debating change in the World Heritage historic urban centre of Cusco, Peru

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A statue known locally as the ‘Piel Roja’ (‘Red Skin’, a Native American in leggings, mocassins, cape, and carrying a bow and arrow) stood atop the Belle Époque fountain in the centre of Cusco’s Plaza de Armas for almost a century until it was toppled in 1969. The fountain remained without a crowning element until 2011 when the then mayor erected a new statue, representing an Inca king, atop it. The ongoing controversy over this statue can serve as a point of departure for interrogating tolerance for change in the public space of historic urban centres, informed by consideration of the relationship between memory, emotion, identity and place.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1092-1108
Number of pages17
JournalInternational Journal of Heritage Studies
Volume26
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Historic urban centres
  • change
  • heritage management
  • memory
  • public space

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Conservation
  • Cultural Studies
  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • History
  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management
  • Museology

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