The political, administrative and religous centre of the Inka empire, Cuzco's central sector boasted a dual plaza surrounded by large halls and compounds with thatched roofs. Some compounds served as residences for Inka kings while others were maintained by descendants of deceased Inka rulers. The city's holiest and finest building was the Qorikancha [or golden enclosure], today the church of Santo Domingo, which included shrines to the creator god, sun moon, rainbow and thunder. Agricultural terraces and storehouses surrounded the city ; beyond lay planned agricultural settlements and scattered hamlets set among terraces and canals. Several roads emerged from the city, including the four main ones that linked Cuzco to the four quarters of the empire. Looming over the city from a hill to the north is the religous- military construction of
Sacsawaman.