Coricancha

Coricancha is located in the city of Cusco, Peru, which was the historical capital of the Inca Empire. It sits in the heart of the modern city, surrounded by centuries of colonial architecture.

It served as the empire's principal and most sacred shrine, dedicated primarily to Inti, the sun god. The walls of the temple were once completely covered in sheets of solid gold, which were later looted by the Spanish.

The Spanish conquistadors destroyed much of the original Inca temple and built the Church of Santo Domingo directly on top of its foundations. The colonial church still stands today atop the expertly crafted, earthquake-resistant Inca walls.

The temple was considered the spiritual and geographic center of Tawantinsuyu, the Inca name for their empire. From this point, imaginary lines known as ceques radiated outward to organize the empire's social and political landscape.