What Inca structure in Cusco was the Temple of the Sun?

Coricancha in Cusco was the Inca Temple of the Sun. Originally known as Intikancha or Intiwasi, it was the most important religious complex in the Inca capital and was dedicated primarily to Inti, the sun god.

Coricancha means “golden enclosure” or “golden precinct” in Quechua. Inca rulers embellished the sanctuary with precious-metal decorations, while priests conducted rituals and maintained the sacred fires and images associated with the imperial religion. The complex also included spaces connected with other deities and important ceremonies.

After the Spanish conquest, much of Coricancha was dismantled. The Dominican Order built the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo over its foundations, reusing Inca stonework. Earthquakes repeatedly damaged the colonial buildings, but the finely fitted Inca walls survived, illustrating the strength of imperial masonry. Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and Sacsayhuamán were also major Inca sites, but they were not the Temple of the Sun in Cusco. Similar sun-related structures existed elsewhere, including at Machu Picchu and Pisac, which can create confusion in quiz questions.