Nov. 7 Cusco Temple of the Sun

We spent the day seeing sites in and near Cusco. We started with the Temple of the Sun. This was the most important Inca building in the empire. The stonework is outstanding and it was totally covered in gold and silver plating. There were gold representations of the gods and animals. There was an entire garden with all gold and silver figures: llama, alpaca, trees, flowers etc. There were precious gems imbedded in the walls.

The Spanish took all the gold and gems and tried to tear down the temple but the stonework made it too difficult. So they built on top and frescoed the stone walls with religious paintings.''
1. Replica of what gold plating looked like with relief figures stamped
2. The cathedral complex
3. Our lady of the Rosary - their version of the Virgin Mary
4. One of the temples - there were temples dedicated to each diety. Each temple different according to the diety: earth, water, moon, stars, lightening, sun
5. Check out the symetry of the windows through many rooms
6. Saint Dominicus Cathedral
7. Entry to temple of the sun - double jam door and exquisite stonework