The Temple of Coricancha in Cusco, with a Spanish church built on its foundations, is one of the most unique places to visit in Cusco. The temple, also known as Qoricancha, Qorikancha, or Koricancha, is an essential stop on free tours Cusco offers.
The Temple of Coricancha in Cusco, also known as Qoricancha, Qorikancha, or Koricancha, was one of the most important and sacred temples of the Inca empire. Located in Santo Domingo Plaza in Cusco, this temple is a highlight of free tours in Cusco. When the Spanish arrived, they destroyed most of Coricancha, and the Santo Domingo Church was built on its foundations, preserving only a small part of its indigenous beauty.
The word “Coricancha” is derived from two Quechua words: “quri” meaning worked gold, and “kancha”, which means temple or place enclosed by walls. This suggests that the name of the temple roughly translates to “Walls of Gold”.
The Temple of Coricancha in Cusco was the center of the city, not just geographically but also as the religious center, a sacred place where appreciation was shown for Inti, the Inca Sun God. To enter the temple, worshippers needed to be barefoot, fasting, and carrying a heavy load upon their back as a sign of humility to the god.
Historians have written that once the Spanish arrived in Cusco, they were blinded by its grandeur. Every wall was covered with a layer of gold, and there were deities everywhere to celebrate the different gods of the Inca Empire. The concentration of precious metals made the whole area shine. There were animal figures made entirely from gold filling the gardens. Most of these pieces were sent to the King of Spain as a ‘thank you’ for allowing the expeditions to South America to take place.
The walls of the Temple of Coricancha in Cusco are made from indigenous rocks named calcite and andesite, giving the structure the perfect finish that is expected from Inca architecture, and which also means that the structures stand up to not just time, but natural disasters. The temple has survived not one, but three different major earthquakes that have rocked Cusco.
The Inca leader, Huayna Capac, gave special importance to the temple and so ordered all rich citizens to travel there. This led to a concentration of powerful people in Cusco and eventually strengthened the empire and allowed for favorability to the state in revolutionary movements.
The Temple of the Sun was the most important part of the Temple of Coricancha in Cusco. It was so large that it took up more than half of the Church of Santo Domingo, which stands in its place today. In this temple, even today, you can see the embalmed bodies of the Children of the Sun, which rest on chairs made of gold, placed at a golden table. There were several mummies found here, and before it was destroyed, it was believed that the temple was protected by Mamaconas, the priestess of the Sun.
Not far from the Temple of the Sun rests the Temple of the Moon. Considered to be the wife of the sun, the Moon Temple was an important part of the Temple of Coricancha in Cusco. The temple itself radiated beauty, lined with silver and decorated with representations of the moon.
As the Sun was God and the Moon was his wife, so the stars were the daughters of the Inca and servants to the moon. The temple to celebrate the stars was close to the moon but was separated by a small alley, dedicated to Venus. The Temple of the Stars is where the Inca was divinized for festivals, ceremonies, and sacrifices, which took place in the courtyard.
The rainbow was also worshiped by the Incas and had a dedicated temple. The Inca believed that rainbows were produced by the sun.
The Solar Garden became almost a warehouse for the offerings brought by the subjects to honor the Sun God. Consisting of many things such as flowers and other foliage brought from Tahuantinsuyo. These offerings were made of gold and silver. During the Colonial period, it became the Dominican friars’ garden.
In the original Temple of Coricancha in Cusco, there were five different fountains, and the origin of the water was a secret. Each fountain held a different religious significance and was decorated with beautiful metals.
When you visit the Temple of Coricancha in Cusco, immerse yourself in history by walking through its patios and corridors. Don’t miss the opportunity to admire the Stone of the Twelve Angles, an impressive display of Inca precision in construction. Also, explore the gardens surrounding the temple, where the combination of local flora and ancient ruins creates a serene and magical atmosphere.
Admission times to the Temple of Coricancha in Cusco are:
The Temple of Coricancha in Cusco is a place you definitely can’t miss, not just for its amazing constructions but for the historical treasure adorning its walls. Discover the hidden magic of the most important temple in the Inca empire through free tours Cusco offers. As you explore this precinct, you will be immersed in an era where gold not only adorned the walls but also the hearts of those who worshipped the Sun God. The Temple of Coricancha in Cusco remains a golden experience that transports you to the grandeur of the Inca civilization. Let yourself be dazzled by the eternal light of this sacred precinct in Cusco!
