Qorikancha

Qurikancha / Convento de Santo Domingo

The most sacred temple of the Inca Empire, once covered in gold. The Spanish built the Convent of Santo Domingo on its stone walls, so one building reflects two civilizations.

Qurikancha (Quechua for 'Golden Courtyard') was the religious center of the Inca Empire, dedicated to the sun god Inti. According to colonial chronicles, its walls were covered with 700 gold plates, and the courtyard held life-sized golden corn plants and llamas. In 1533 the Spanish melted these down as part of Atahualpa's ransom. They then built the Convent of Santo Domingo on the temple's foundations. The earthquakes of 1650 and 1950 toppled the colonial structures, but the Inca stone walls stood firm. Today one building shows two civilizations layered together. At its base are the finest curved Inca stone walls, the masterpiece of Cusco's stonemasons. Above them are a baroque cloister and a bell tower. The visit includes the stone chambers of the Sun, Moon, Rainbow and Thunder temples, where the stones are polished like mirrors and the niches align precisely. It also includes the Cusco School paintings in the convent cloister and a view of the full curved stone wall and terraces from the garden in front of the temple. Entry costs PEN 20 and is not included in the tourist ticket. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 08:30–17:30 and Sunday 14:00–17:00. A visit takes about an hour. Guides (about PEN 30–50) can explain Inca astronomy and architecture. The temple is a five-minute walk southeast of the Plaza de Armas along Sol Avenue, and walking there along the Loreto Inca stone lane is an experience in itself. The underground Qorikancha Archaeological Museum (included in the ticket) displays excavated artifacts. Every June, the Inti Raymi procession sets out from here for Saqsaywaman.

Qorikancha

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