In this article, you will find General Information about Qoricancha, one of the most emblematic and historically rich sites in Cusco. General Information about Qoricancha will help you understand its cultural importance, its unique architecture, and everything you need to know to fully enjoy your visit to this ancient Inca temple dedicated to the sun.
What is Qoricancha?
Qoricancha is an Inca archaeological site in Cusco. It was dedicated to the most important god, the sun. It has several rooms dedicated to the worship of other Inca gods such as the moon, stars, rainbow, lightning, and more. Above these structures stands the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo, a Christian religious temple of great architectural beauty. Due to the historical importance of these structures, it is a highly visited site by tourists arriving in Cusco.
Where is the Qoricancha temple located?
Qoricancha temple and the Santo Domingo convent are located just 1.7 kilometers from the main square of the city of Cusco, Peru. The address is Ahuacpinta Street 659. The site is at 3,390 meters (11,155 feet) above sea level and about an 8-minute walk along Loreto Street.
History of the Qoricancha Temple
The exact date of its construction is unknown, but it is believed that Qoricancha dates back to the Ayarmaca period (The Ayarmaca lordship was an ethnic group at the height of power during the early Inca period, feared by the Incas and other smaller lordships around Cusco).
Qoricancha underwent changes during the ninth Inca ruler, Pachacutec, in 1438. Both the city and the temple received the name by which they are currently known (Qoricancha).
Researcher Brian Bauser suggests that the temple’s remodeling may have been completed during the government of Túpac Yupanqui. However, another researcher, John Rowe, believes it was finished during Pachacutec’s rule.
At that time, Qoricancha was the political, religious, and geographic center of Cusco. Important chroniclers like Garcilaso de la Vega and Cieza de LeĂłn described Qoricancha as the “Temple Laminated in Gold.” Interestingly, it is known that both the temple floors and the garden had life-size plants and animals made of solid gold.
What to See in Qoricancha?
The Sun Sanctuary:
The most important enclosure of all. It was dedicated to the sun god and the god Huiracocha, the Andean worldview’s creator deity. Inside, it was guarded by the famous mamaconas, also called priestesses of the sun. The stonework of this temple’s walls is the most sophisticated of the entire empire — no structure could fit between its joints. The sun god was the main deity of the Incas. This enclosure was probably decorated with gold sheets, a material associated with the sun’s brightness.
The Stars Sanctuary:
According to Inca belief, the stars were daughters born from the union of the sun and the moon. Each star symbolized an animal on earth, such as the llama, vicuña, puma, and snake. This enclosure was dedicated to these sky deities. Inside, you can see niches where, according to research, precious stone ornaments and the bones of camelids were placed.
The Rainbow Sanctuary:
The rainbow was highly valued by the Incas because it came from the sun and rain, two deities. This sanctuary was one of the most revered and therefore one of the most lavish in all of Qoricancha. It is believed that all the walls of this enclosure were entirely covered in gold. Some think the walls were even decorated with the colors of the rainbow using precious stones.
The Sacrifice Sanctuary:
One of the most popular places in Qoricancha is the sacrifice table. This stone platform, flat and table-shaped, is next to the rainbow sanctuary. It is believed that sacrifices were made here. At the lowest part of this stone table, there are three holes that would have drained the blood of the sacrificed animals, preferably llamas.
The Lightning Sanctuary:
Lightning, called “Illapa” in Quechua (the Inca language), was one of the most feared and worshiped gods of the Inca Empire. For this reason, the lightning sanctuary, also called thunder or lightning, was one of the most important in Qoricancha. Access to this building is through three doors. The sanctuary was decorated with precious stones. It is believed that human sacrifices were performed here in honor of Illapa through “Capacocha” rituals — sacrifices of children on the farthest snowy peaks of the empire.
The Sacred Gardens:
The gardens of Qoricancha were the most beautiful in the entire empire. They were decorated with different species of flowers and shrubs, such as the Kantu flower (now recognized as the Inca flower and the national flower of Peru). Offerings brought during ceremonies at Qoricancha were gathered here.
The Ceremonial Fountain:
The original Qoricancha temple was later modified by the Spanish with useful structures for the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo. One of these additions is the water fountain, located in the middle of the Inca enclosure. It is a colonial structure with an octagonal shape and square base. It is believed that an earlier Inca construction stood here before.
The Sacred Alley:
One of the most famous structures in Qoricancha is the sacred alley. As its name suggests, it is a narrow passage made of finely polished stones slightly inclined to withstand earthquakes. Through this alley, one would reach the Sun Sanctuary, the temple’s most important enclosure. This structure features a rock with more than twenty-four angles. The alley is about 10 meters long and is a popular photo spot for tourists.
