Travel bucket list idea:
Cusco, Cusco Region, Peru
Dedicated to the sun and the moon, and with twin rooms once covered in solid gold and silver, the Qorikancha temple was the spiritual heart of the Inca Empire.
The building was literally laid out as a giant ‘Sun, star and moon dial’, used to physically track the movements of a diversity of astronomical bodies and to coordinate these with day-to-day planning and crop-planting across the Empire.
This was once the richest, most elaborate temple to Inti – the sun – in the entire Inca empire. ‘Qorikancha’ means ‘golden courtyard’. Unfortunately, the golden walls – and other gold-sculpted treasures – were looted and melted down by the Conquistadors on their arrival in the city.
Only the magnificent stonework remains; a curved, perfectly-fitted wall, inside which are the remains of the last Inca emperor: Tupac Amaru.
While visiting, don’t miss the art gallery – just out of view on the second floor of the monastery; a small museum featuring installations of contemporary Peruvian art.
Qorikancha has nothing in the way of signage to explain its purpose and history-making a guide highly recommended. Find them at the entrance; many speak English and other languages.
Open all year round, seven days a week except for Sunday morning and public holidays.
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