Cusco’s Qorikancha · The Temple Under the Church

The Qorikancha in Cusco once had gold plates on its walls and a courtyard at its centre, dedicated to the sun, the moon, the stars and the rainbow. The Spanish demolished most of it and built a monastery on its foundations.

Earthquakes have cracked the church more than once, but the Inca stonework beneath has never fallen: the blocks shift slightly in a quake and settle back into place, leaving no gap at the joints.

To enter the courtyard today you pass through the church to reach the few round chambers left at the back. The caretakers say the stone is older than the church, and steadier.

Historical Mysteries / Cusco · Peru / 15th century