Thursday, 23 August 2018
In Incan times, Qorikancha (Koricancha, Coricancha) was the premier sun temple of the Incan empire. The conquistadores looted all the gold and silver (reputedly 55 kg of gold from just one altar), then built a a church and convent (Santa Domingo) on top of the Incan temple. Much of the original has been lost, but an earthquake in 1950 destroyed the newer additions, while the superb Incan stonework remained intact, and revealed the underlying structure.
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| The main cloister doesn't reveal much of the underlying Incan architecture. |
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| But parts of the interior show the superior Incan stonework, while remnants of the overlying Spanish structure (arch) can be seen. |
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| This drawing, embossed on a gold plate, was made in the 17th century by an local native trying to preserve ancient knowledge many years after the natives were expelled from Qorikancha. |
This completed our tour in Peru. I had hoped to be able to go to areas of Cusco near the hotel (the Plaza de Armas was only a block away), but I was still too weak to leave the hotel.
Next stop: Guayaquil, Ecuador, on the way to the Galapagos Islands.
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