The Coricancha, or Temple of the Sun, was the most important religious structure during the Inca Empire. Even centuries later, this site continues to amaze visitors with its beauty. According to the Inca worldview, the Coricancha was the religious, geographical, and political center of Cusco. The Temple of the Sun was the place where the people of the Tahuantinsuyo worshipped the supreme Inca deity, “Inti” (the Sun). Because of its importance, the Coricancha was built with exceptional attention to detail, giving it a unique architectural character.
The Temple of the Sun, or Coricancha, was originally known as “Inticancha” or “Intiwasi,” meaning House of the Sun. It was a religious complex built around 1200 AD under the rule of Inca Wiracocha. During the reign of Inca Pachacutec, the entire city of Cusco underwent a major process of beautification. It was during this period that Inticancha became known as Qoricancha, and massive walls were built around it and covered with sheets of gold, silver, and precious stones. Following the arrival of the Spanish invasion, the Temple of the Sun was looted and destroyed. According to some historians, the gold belonging to the complex was taken to Cajamarca to pay the ransom for Inca Atahualpa.
The temple became the property of Francisco Pizarro, who gave it to the Dominican order. The Dominicans demolished what remained of the Temple of the Coricancha to build the Temple of Santo Domingo. The complex was affected by three earthquakes (1650, 1749, and 1950), which severely damaged the Church of Santo Domingo, while the Inca walls remained intact. In 1956, reconstruction of the Temple of the Sun, or Coricancha, began, with priority given to preserving and showcasing the Inca walls.
According to many chroniclers, the first people to build a temple in honor of the Sun were the original inhabitants of Cusco, known as the “Ayamarcas,” who initially called it “Inticancha.” This ethnic group lived in Cusco around the 13th century, before the expansion of the Inca Empire began. They had a strong rivalry with the Incas; however, they were defeated and incorporated into the Tahuantinsuyo during the reign of Inca Wiracocha.
Koricancha, Qoricancha, or Coricancha can be understood in Spanish as “Temple of Gold,” derived from the Quechua words Quri, meaning “gold,” and Kancha, meaning “temple.” “Qori” can also refer to worked or crafted gold, while its Hispanicized form is Cori. “Kancha” means an enclosed place surrounded by walls, with “Cancha” being its Hispanicized form. Therefore, the name can be understood as “an enclosed place containing gold.”
In addition to the Temple of the Sun, the Coricancha contained four smaller temple complexes dedicated to deities such as Killa, the Moon goddess; Illapa, the god of lightning; K'uychi, the rainbow; and Chack'a, the star goddess. All of these complexes had a continuous band of pure gold approximately three meters above the ground connecting each sector. Likewise, the wire used to support the thatched roofs was made of gold. The walls were built with naturally shaped stones fitted together with remarkable precision, as seen in other Inca constructions.
The Coricancha is located in the center of Cusco, at the intersection of El Sol Avenue and Santo Domingo Street, just two blocks from Cusco's Plaza de Armas.
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The description provided by Garcilaso is consistent with what remains standing today, although what can be seen now is only a pale reflection of what the Coricancha was like during the Inca period.
It was the main temple of the entire Coricancha and occupied more than half the width of the present-day Church of Santo Domingo. Garcilaso recounts that inside this temple were the embalmed bodies of the children of the Sun, arranged according to age on chairs and gold-covered tables. The walls were covered with sheets of gold, and there was a disk representing the Sun made from a thicker sheet of gold than those covering the temple. Its western end corresponds to the present-day curved wall overlooking El Sol Avenue, while its eastern end extended to the current church atrium.
This temple was located closer to the Temple of the Sun because the Moon was considered the Sun's wife. The building was covered with silver panels and featured a representation of the Moon made of silver. The mummies of the Coyas were kept inside, arranged according to age. Approximately half of the temple was demolished by the Spanish to build the nave of the Church of Santo Domingo. It occupies part of the western side of the inner courtyard of the Coricancha.
It is located near the Temple of the Moon, separated by a beautiful narrow passage. It was dedicated to Venus, the Pleiades, and all the other stars. The Incas called Venus “Chasca,” meaning star. According to historical accounts, the Inca would stay in this temple to be divinized or to witness ceremonies and sacrifices held in the rectangular courtyard. It occupies part of the western side of the inner courtyard of the Coricancha.
Illapa or Chuki Illapa refers to lightning, thunderbolt, and thunder. The temple is located opposite the Temple of Venus. It has three single-jamb doorways, evenly spaced and slightly trapezoidal, as well as a window on each side wall.
This temple was dedicated to the Rainbow, which according to ancient beliefs originated from the Sun. It has architectural characteristics similar to those of the Temple of Illapa. Part of this temple was demolished by the Spanish to build the buildings of the Dominican Convent. It is located north of the Temple of Illapa and opposite the Temple of the Moon, on the eastern side of the inner courtyard of the Coricancha.
Inti Pampa, a name that translates as “Plain of the Sun,” was the place where nobles, their entourages, servants, dancers, and others stayed when the Inca and the nobility moved to the Coricancha during festivities. This site now corresponds to Santo Domingo Square, and apparently its boundaries and size have changed very little. It is located north of what was once the Coricancha.
It became the great repository for offerings brought by all the conquered and allied nations to the Sun God. These offerings consisted of representations of the flora and fauna of the Tahuantinsuyo. According to some historians, these gold and silver offerings were life-sized and existed in such quantities that they filled the area remarkably. Because of the numerous terraces, the Spanish called it the Solar Garden. During the colonial period, it became a garden for the Dominican friars. It is located on the western side of the Coricancha and can be seen in its entirety from El Sol Avenue.
There were five water fountains, whose sources were kept secret. The fountains had religious significance and were decorated with precious metals. They were located throughout the Coricancha. Today, visitors can see one fountain with octagonal corners in the courtyard of the Coricancha.
The Temple of the Sun is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The GENERAL ADMISSION fee is S/ 15.00 for foreign and Peruvian visitors. Admission is not included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket.
*Please note that your entrance ticket allows you to visit the Coricancha temple without a time limit.
They are part of the same historic complex, but they belong to different periods. The Coricancha preserves important structures of Inca origin, while the Convent of Santo Domingo was built during the colonial period over part of the ancient temple.
No. Admission to the Coricancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo is paid separately and is not included in the Cusco Tourist Ticket.
A visit to the Coricancha can take approximately one hour. If you would like to explore its spaces at a more relaxed pace, appreciate the architecture, and learn more about its history, you may want to allow a little more time.
The Coricancha was one of the main religious centers of Inca Cusco. It was especially dedicated to the worship of the Sun, and ceremonies and rituals of great importance to the religious and symbolic organization of the Tahuantinsuyo were carried out at this complex.
It is recommended to visit during the early morning or at times when there are fewer visitors. This allows you to explore the site more peacefully and better appreciate the details of the Inca architecture.
You can visit the Coricancha on your own; however, having a tour guide can help you better understand the role this complex played during the Inca period and the changes it underwent during the colonial era.
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