Koricancha

ancient Incan shrine, Cuzco, Peru

Also known as: Coricancha

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June 30, 2026

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The Koricancha, meaning "Golden Enclosure," was a significant Incan shrine in Cuzco, Peru. It was dedicated to Viracocha, the creator deity, and Inti, the sun god, and also housed shrines for other deities. This sacred site served as an astronomical and calendrical observatory. During Inca rule, its walls were adorned with gold and silver plates, and its gardens featured gold statuettes of corn and other figures. The Spanish conquistadors occupied Cuzco in 1533 and sacked the city, converting the Koricancha's treasures into bullion. Today, the church of Santo Domingo incorporates the foundations and walls of the Koricancha.1

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…and several walls of the Koricancha (Coricancha), a Quechua name meaning “Golden Enclosure,” or “Golden Garden”; the site was dedicated to Viracocha, the creator deity, and Inti, the sun god, and is also known as the Temple of the Sun. It also contained shrines to a variety of other deities.…
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…and several walls of the Koricancha (Coricancha), a Quechua name meaning “Golden Enclosure,” or “Golden Garden”; the site was dedicated to Viracocha, the creator deity, and Inti, the sun god, and is also known as the Temple of the Sun. It also contained shrines to a variety of other deities.…
Read More