Qorikancha

The view opens onto Qorikancha, crowned by the Santo Domingo Convent. In Quechua, Qorikancha means “Golden Enclosure.” Shaped under Pachacútec, it was the most sacred sanctuary in the empire, dedicated to the sun god Inti and the creator god Viracocha, as well as an important center of astronomy and learning. When the conquistadors arrived in 1533, they described a place of almost unimaginable wealth: walls covered in gleaming plates of gold and silver, and gardens filled with statues made from precious metals—including ears of corn crafted from solid gold.

The temptation was immediate. After looting and melting down these treasures, the Spanish built the Dominican church and convent you see before you directly on top of the Inca foundations. Look closely at the façade and you can still see the perfectly fitted stone blocks supporting the walls and arches of the Spanish colonial structure above.

And yet, the memory of the Sun is still very much alive here. Every June 24, Cusco comes alive for Inti Raymi, the legendary “Festival of the Sun.” The timing is closely tied to the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere—the shortest day and longest night of the year. What was once a solemn ceremony lasting 15 days has become a vast theatrical spectacle featuring more than 800 performers in brilliant costumes.

And the celebration begins right here on this esplanade before continuing to the Plaza de Armas, showing just how deeply Cusco’s Inca heritage continues to resonate in the present.