the major earthquake that hit cusco in 1950 badly destroyed the dominican priory and church of santo domingo, which were built on top of the impressive koricancha (temple of the sun). the city's inca architecture, however, survived the earthquake. many of the old inca walls were thought to have been lost after the earthquake, but the granite walls of the koricancha were exposed, as well as many walls throughout the city. while some wanted to restore the buildings to their colonial splendor, some of cusco citizens urged city officials to retain the exposed walls. eventually they won out and now tourists from around the world enjoy looking at these ruins within the living city. the 1950 earthquake was the second time that the dominican priory had been destroyed, the first being in 1650 when another major earthquake struck cusco.