This ancient Inca Sun Temple is one of the most important sites in Cuzco. It was what Mount Olympus was to the Greeks, the most regarded of all holy places and where all of their most revered gods were housed. Known as the "gold precinct," it was one of the places where one could worship the highest Incan god, the "Inti." Because of this, one could only enter this shrine if they dragged a load on their backs, barefoot and fasting, as that was a sign of humility in the eyes of the main priest "Wilag Umuo."

Luckily for tourists, the site is now much easier to enter, costing only a few dollars and conveniently located near the main square. The first sight you'll see is the beautiful wall decorated with a continuous gold band and a ceiling made of precisely cut straw. It is also worth noting that on the Western side of main square the remains of the stone carvings are very well preserved despite the pillaging of the Spaniards, earthquakes, and colonial reconstruction.

Just part of the room where the religious hierarchy congregated still remains. Some postulate that it used to be a central wall that supported the ridge and was made of adobe, and the roofing made out of wood structures and straw covers.

The Sun God was not the only god worshipped inside the temple. Located at the Northwest side of the garden was a shrine for the Moon and then one next to that was devoted to Venus and other constellations. Lighting (Llapa) and the rainbow (Cuichu) were worshiped on the other side of the yard. There also was once a gold sheet on an altar that reflected the sun a dawn, but was partially destroyed by colonial reconstruction.

The Inca days were glorious at Coricancha, especially by the accounts of the first Spaniards who entered Cuzco. They reported that lavish ceremonies took place day and night and the elaborate decor was fabulous beyond belief. The carved granite walls of the temple were covered in more than 700 sheets of pure gold and the spacious courtyard was filled with life-size statues made of pure gold. Unfortunately, none of this exists today because it was stolen by the Spanish, who promptly melted down the gold and built a church on the foundations.

The temple is located a few streets down from the main square at El Sol Avenue and Santo Domingo Street. Visiting hours are Monday through Saturday from 8am to 5pm.

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