Courtyard of Coricancha and Santo Domingo church
The famous Inca site of Coricancha, the Templo del Sol or Temple of the Sun. Coricancha (in local language Quechua) means "golden courtyard". Its walls were once lined in sheets of solid gold. Statues and ornaments of gold decorated the interior and a large golden disc reflected the sun, casting a brilliant light on the temple. All this was stripped by the conquistadors soon after they arrived in Cusco, and most of the gold was melted and sent to Spain. The Spanish colonists built the Church of Santo Domingo on the site, demolishing the temple and using its foundations for the cathedral. You can see one of the original rooms from the Inca period in this picture.
Courtyard of Coricancha and Santo Domingo church
The famous Inca site of Coricancha, the Templo del Sol or Temple of the Sun. Coricancha (in local language Quechua) means "golden courtyard". Its walls were once lined in sheets of solid gold. Statues and ornaments of gold decorated the interior and a large golden disc reflected the sun, casting a brilliant light on the temple. All this was stripped by the conquistadors soon after they arrived in Cusco, and most of the gold was melted and sent to Spain. The Spanish colonists built the Church of Santo Domingo on the site, demolishing the temple and using its foundations for the cathedral. You can see one of the original rooms from the Inca period in this picture.