Cusco, Day 2

My second day in Cusco began splendidly with a trip to the grand site of Qoricancha.


Upon the foundations of the once-great Incan Temple of the Sun sits the Church of Santo Domingo, built during the time of the Spanish colonization.


Rather than start afresh entirely, the Dominicans used those parts of the existing structure, which had not been plundered and moved elsewhere, incorporating two exterior and several interior Incan walls into their design.



Within those walls, four of the original rooms of Qoricancha still remain.





Two of these rooms, so stark and simple, stand not twenty feet from the opulence of the classically Spanish courtyard.



The striking juxtaposition of two such disparate yet oddly complimentary styles fascinated me.


Yet my favorite views of this awesome structure awaited me outdoors... down a rather intimidating stairway with no rails. (Not a welcome sight for an inelegant klutz like myself.)









On a second staircase, above the idyllic rose garden, potted plants rest upon loose stones and sculptures left over from the original Qoricancha..





I can hardly imagine, in either the details or the design, a more apt symbol for the mestizo (blending of native and Spanish) culture of Cusco. Or having had a lovelier day upon which to see it.


Sadly, shortly after leaving Qoricancha, I began felling poorly once again, and the rest of the day was kind of a wash. but at least it started off beautifully!


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Location:Atocsaycuchi,Cuzco,Peru