Besides its amazing landscapes, sur rounded by hills and several
snowcapped mountains, Quito is known for its treasures of
Colonial churches, paintings, sculptures and carvings. The
Spanish Colonial Period extends from the XVI to the XVIII
Century. The excellent workmanship of Ecuadorian colonial
art combine the European Renaissance and Baroque styles with
the indigenous and mestizo influences. With the arrival of
the Spaniards, the Roman Catholic Church became the center
of religious instruction and promotion of arts.
As part of the acculturation of the indigenous people, the
Spanish established painting and sculpture schools where Spanish
artists trained the indigenous population in the arts. As
a result, the Quitenian School (Escuela Quiteña) became
famous in Latin America for its talented artists, including
Bernardo de Legarda and the indigenous artists Caspicara and
Pampite. Miguel de Santiago, Javier de Goribar, Manuel Samaniego
and Padre Bedón were other outstanding representatives
of this school of art. Scholars consider that their contributions
to colonial art are some of the most valuable in America.
Thus, the UNESCO declared Quito World Cultural Heritage Site
in 1978.
However, the history of Quito stretches much further before
the arrival of the Spaniards. Before the Spanish Sebastian
de Benalcázar conquered the city in 1534, the Incas
conquered it in the XV century. At the time when the Incas
came, they found an organized civilization: the Shyris. Furthermore,
recent discoveries have uncovered archeological sites that
date back to 1500 BC. These archeological remains are aligned
with the summer solstice and the winter equinox, demonstrating
that the native people had an impressive knowledge of the
course of the sun. The respective cultures are believed to
have migrated from the Ecuadorian Coast.
Quitsa-to, the original name of the city, means "middle
of the Earth" in the antique ‘tsafiqui’ language.
Quito is the only site on the planet where the Equator crosses
over highlands. On the rest of the Earth’s surface,
it crosses through jungle or ocean. Therefore, the pre-Inca
cultures could develop their astronomical knowledge helped
by the clear landmarks surrounding the city: the Pichincha
volcano (15,000 ft) to the West, the Antisana (18,700ft) to
the east, and the peak of the snow-caped Cayambe (18,725 ft)
to the Northeast, almost precisely on the Equator. The city
itself emerges over 9,184 ft above sea level; it is the second
highest capital in the world. Thus, Quito is the best natural
astronomical observatory on the planet.
Sightseeing
We suggest that you to begin your sightseeing at the main
square "La Plaza de la Independencia". This booklet
will guide you through churches, museums and other interesting
places in our colonial downtown. From Independence Square
you can walk to most of the downtown sites. The main plaza
or Independence Square is surrounded by four buildings that
represent the four ruling powers of the colonial period: the
Government Palace on the West, the Municipal Palace on the
East, the Archbishop’s Palace on the north, and the
Cathedral on the south.
The Government Palace
It is not possible to visit the interiors of the palace, however,
from the entrance door one is able to appreciate the Andalusian
patios that have half-point arches and water fountains in
the center. The irons of the building are also interesting.
They were brought from the Tullerias Palace in France. A scale
model of the Independence Square is exposed in the entrance
to the Palace.
The Cathedral
This
church holds an interesting collection of sculptures and paintings
from the Escuela Quiteña. Among the most important
is the "Descending of Christ" by Caspicara. It is
a masterpiece of expressionism. As in most Ecuadorian and
Latin American churches, many styles are used in the construction
of the Cathedral: late Gothic in the arches, Moorish in the
ceilings and Baroque in the main altar. The choir, the stone
Episcopal chair, the central painting by Manuel Samaniego
and the statues by Caspicara are of neoclassical style.
A museum that displays the clothes used by the priests on
the XVII century ("casullas"), choral books and
silver pieces of the church is open from 10h00 to 16h00. The
price of the guided tour is of $1.50. Phone: 228 2825.
Cultural Center
It is located on the corner of the Main Square, next to the
Government’s Palace. The Jesuits originally constructed
this building in the XVII Century. It was remodeled to house
a monumental Cultural Center. The original buildings were
a Jesuit University and School. In 1767, when Charles III
of Spain banished the Jesuit Order from the colonized territories,
the buildings became a public University. On the last decade
of the XVIII century, the buildings became the army headquarters
of the Spanish Royal troops sent from Lima to repress the
early independence efforts. Thus, the building was known as
the "Royal Barrack of Lima". In this building, the
heroic efforts for independence ended up in a massacre of
a number of patriots from Quito on August 2, 1810. The Alberto
Mena Caamaño Museum displays this massacre with real
size wax sculptures, as well as other important scenes of
Quito’s history. Several exhibit rooms were recently
inaugurated.
The Cultural Center also holds a museum of colonial art as
well and the Municipal Library.
There is also a Contemporary Art exhibit room, which houses
temporary exhibitions.
Enjoy its beauty and history as well as its cultural services!
Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9h00 to 17h00. Entrance fee
is $1.50, children $0.50. Phone: 295-0272/ 295-7062.
El Sagrario
This church was originally the main chapel of the Cathedral,
built for the cult of the Holy Sacrament. It has been kept
for this service until these days. The stone facade with its
ornamented Salomon columns is an excellent frame for a high
Baroque that leaves practically no space without ornamentation.
This style is typical of Bernardo de Legarda’s sculpture.
It is located next to the Cathedral. Visiting hours: 8h00
to 16h00. Admission is free. For more information, call 228
4398.
La Compañia de Jesús
This is one of the richest churches in America. The extraordinary
facade can be described as a lacework on stone. Six Salomonic
columns in the lower part support a second body of different
widths, reminiscent of the Church of Gesu in Rome. The columns
are a copy of those by Bernini in the Vatican. The splendor
that meets your eye as you go into the church is unforgettable:
the vaulted ceiling and the walls with beautiful Moorish ornamentation,
the perfect harmony and the richness of the main altar, the
reproduction of the Salomon columns of the facade, the incredible
clustered Baroque on the tribunes on both sides of the main
altar, in the pulpit, and in the lateral chapels. Everything
is covered with gold leaf. It is a magnificent exhibit of
foliage, vines, fruits, birds and caryatids. The Holy Trinity
in the main altar and the images of Saint Francis and Saint
Ignatius in the side altars are works of the famous Legarda.
Paintings of the prophets, works of Goribar, are hung in the
majestic archery that divides the aisles. It is located at
Benalcazar St. Open Mondays to Fridays 10h00 to 13h00, 14h00
to 17h00. Saturdays 10h00 to 13h00. Phone numbers: 258 0612/257
2976. Entrance fee is US$ 2.
San Francisco Church and Plaza
This complex gave the capital of Ecuador its proper name:
San Francisco de Quito. It is the oldest in Quito, built in
1536-1580. San Francisco is the biggest religious architectonic
complex in America, with over 8,670 acres, including the convent
with 6 internal patios. The atrium running along one side
of the plaza is opened in the middle to give way to a beautiful
staircase. The facade has a style similar to that of the Escorial
in Spain. The inside is Baroque style. The coffer ceiling
in the narthex has rich Moorish style ornamentation with paintings
by Miguel de Santiago. It is interesting to note among the
ornate details images of the sun god, the Inca divinity. The
main altar holds the original masterpiece by Legarda: "La
Virgen de Quito"(Quito’s Virgin). This sculpture
is the only winged image of Virgin Mary in colonial art.
The San Francisco Plaza was an antique "Tianguez",
which means ‘market’ in the native Nahuatl language.
During Pre-Columbian times, Plaza San Francisco was a lively
commercial center, which hosted approximately ten ethnic dominations
from the neighboring valleys.
San Francisco is located between Sucre and Bolívar
Streets. Visiting hours: 7h00-12h00 and 15h00-19h00, Monday
through Thursday, 7h00 to 19h00 Fridays through Sundays. Admission
is free.
Cantuña Chapel
Located at one side of the San Franciscan atrium. Visiting
hours: 7h00 to 18h00, Sundays 7h00 to 12h00. Admission fee
is $2.50.
The Calvary woodcarvings on the main altar are one of Legarda’s
most outstanding masterpieces of the colonial times. Saint
Peter of Alcántara is another masterpiece to look at,
carved by Padre Carlos. A legend of the chapel says that Francisco
Cantuña (the indigenous man that paved the atrium with
large stone blocks) constructed the chapel with the treasures
saved from the Kingdom of Quito.
San Francisco Museum
Located next to the church at the San Francisco Square. The
zaguan (antique entrance hall), the main cloister, the renaissance
stairway, the chorus and the exposition lounge are now the
site of a number of selected works of the Franciscan collection.
You can find works of Andrés Sánchez Galque
(of indigenous origin), Miguel de Santiago, Mateo Mexía,
the European authors Zurbarán and Bernardo de Bitti,
or their respective schools, among others of the XVI-XVIII
centuries. Among the sculptures, you can find the glass eyes
characteristic of the XVIII century. You will also find pieces
of furniture of the XVIII century. The museum is called Fray
Pedro Gocial in honor to the first painting instructor. Visiting
hours: 09h00-18h00. Entrance fee: US$.2. Phone number: 228
1124.
Convent of San Diego
The Saint Francis congregation constructed this church to
provide the priests and laymen with a place of retreat. Along
the corridors are paintings dating back to the XVII century,
which had been covered with lime for years and are now being
restored. A genuine manifestation of syncretism!
Visiting Hours: 09h30-13h00 and 14h30-17h30 Tuesdays-Sundays.
Phone number: 295 2516. Entrance fee: $2.
San Augustine Church
It is on the corner of Chile and Guayaquil Streets. The construction
of this church was finished in 1538 and has been remodeled
due to earthquake damage. The vault underneath the chorus,
the wood carved columns, and the gilded altars are the only
remains of the original construction.
San Augustine Convent
The first thing to admire here are the beautiful cloisters
in three different levels, the fountain in the colonial patio
carved from a single block of stone, the coffer ceiling in
the lower cloister, and the huge collection of paintings by
the artist Miguel de Santiago.
The artist spent most of his life working in the convent to
finish the task of painting the scenes of St. Augustine’s
life.
Visiting hours 09h00-12h00 and 13h00-17h30 Saturdays: Admission
is $1. Phone number: 295 5525.
Sala Capitular
In this same convent you will find one of the most important
historical sites in Spanish America. The first Act of Independence
was signed here on August 10th, 1809.
The Calvary masterpiece by a Quitenian artist named Olmos
from the XVII century is located to the right of this large
room. Entrance fee: US$.1.
La Merced Church and Convent
Visiting hours: 8h00 to 12h00 and15h00-17h30, Monday to Saturday.
Admission free. One can admire a stone-carved pagan god, Neptune.
Also noticeable are Bernardo Legarda’s main altar woodcarvings
and an image of great beauty of Our Lady of Mercy in stone.
Phone: 228 0743.
Other interesting places in this city:
Guápulo Church
This sanctuary is located in a little village two kilometers
heading down from the Hotel Quito. Visiting hours: 09h30-12h30
and 15h30-18h00 Mondays to Saturdays. This sanctuary can be
reached by car or bus in about 10 minutes or you can walk
down a Colonial stone paved path which was the route followed
by Francisco de Orellana to discover the Amazon River. The
facade and the dome of the church have a simple neoclassic
style. The main altar painted by Miguel de Santiago and the
image of our Lady of Guadalupe by Diego de Robles are original
masterpieces. Many qualify the pulpit carved by the Indigenous
Sculptor Menacho as the most beautiful pulpit in America.
Phone number: 256 5652. Entrance fee: US$2.
The Monument on the Equator
Visiting hours: 09h00-18h00 Mondays-Fridays 09h00 - 19h00
Saturdays and Sundays.
This popular tourist site is located approximately 20 minutes
from Quito. One may visit an Ethnic Museum here, shop and
place one foot on the northern Hemisphere and the other on
the southern Hemisphere. Entrance fee: US$. 2.
At this site, don’t miss the "Solar Culture Museum",
which displays the latest investigations about the real middle
of the world, done by the scientific research project Quitsa-to.
(www.quitsato.com).
El Panecillo
Many historical happenings took place on this natural hill
that stands in Quito. "Panecillo" means "little
bread" referring to its peculiar size and shape. The
Virgin that stands on the hill, which consists of 7,000 pieces
of aluminum, is a modern representation of the famous "Virgen
de Quito", the unique winged dancing Virgin conceived
by Bernardo Legarda in the XVIIth century. (The original masterpiece
can be seen at the main altar of the San Francisco Church).
There is a balcony in the upper part of the pedestal of the
Virgin that provides a beautiful view of the colonial and
the modern city of Quito. This sculpture is the third biggest
of the sightseeing statues in the world, after the NY Statue
of Liberty and the Corcovada in Brazil. Open every day from
10h30 to 17h30. The entrance fee to the interior of the monument
is $.1.
El Ejido Park
It is located at Patria and Amazonas Avenues. If you like
contemporary art, this is the place to be on weekends. A walk
in the park will bring you face to face with beautiful paintings
and other handicrafts. You may bargain with the artists to
get reasonable prices. The park is a great setting for an
afternoon stroll.
Museums
Central Bank Museum
It is located at the Casa de la Cultura (Cultural House) on
6 de Diciembre and Patria Avenues. Visiting hours: Tuesdays-Fridays
09h00 to17h00/ weekends and holidays10h00 to16h00. Phone:
222-3258. Pre-Colonial, Colonial and contemporary Art appears
in 1,417 pieces exhibited permanently and in itinerary and
temporary displays. It also presents an opportunity to learn
about our origin, evolution and history.
Entrance fee: US$2 Students US$.1. Guide service available.
Benalcazar House-Museum
This museum displays paintings of the XVII century and sculptures
of the XVII and XIII century. It is located at Olmedo and
Benalcazar St. Open Mondays to Fridays 09h30 to 13h00 and
15h30 to 19h00.
City Museum
Located at García Moreno 572 and Rocafuerte (colonial
Quito), this museum opens Tuesdays to Sundays from 9h30 to
17h30.
Follow Quito’s everyday life through the centuries in
the beautiful colonial building converted into the "Museo
de la Ciudad" (City Museum). The museum is in the interior
of the building that once was the San Juan de Dios Hospital
(1565) and includes an exhibit of the city’s history
throughout the centuries, from pre-Hispanic times to the nineteenth
century.
Entrance fee: $3 for adults, $1.50 for children, students.
Guided tour: additional fee of $4. For more information call:
228-3882 / 228-3883.
María Augusta Urrutia Museum
Located at García Moreno 760 (colonial Quito). Open
Tuesdays to Sundays 09h00 to 17h00.
Follow along the life and activities of a wealthy and very
generous woman of Quito’s early XXth
century.
Observe the architecture of a typical house in colonial Quito.
Enjoy the beautifully decorated interiors (especially the
French antiques), and the distinctive clothing and artifacts
of the time. Entrance fee: US$ 2.50 (special rates for children,
students and senior citizens). Includes a guided tour. For
more information call: 258-0103 / 258-0107
Guayasamín Museum and "La Capilla del Hombre"
(Man’s Chapel)
A stop at Guayasamin´s house-museum is a must to any
visitor in Quito. This museum exhibits an excellent sample
of pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary art from the private
collections of the famous Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín
(1919-1999). Shortly before his death, Oswaldo Guayasamín
donated these collections and his works to the city of Quito.
Open Tuesday to Saturdays 10h00 - 17h00. Entrance fee: $3.
Next to the house-museum, "La Capilla del Hombre"
(Man’s Chapel) was inaugurated last November. Guayasamín
dreamed with this chapel to pay tribute to the American pre-Columbian
man, who has quietly kept 500 years of resistance and still
struggles to recover his values. The artist started the construction
of this Chapel on 1995, but unfortunately he died before his
masterpiece was concluded. With the effort of his heirs, through
the Guayasamín Foundation, the artist’s dream
is coming alive. The Chapel itself occupies about 4,000 meters
of construction. It is a rectangular construction of two floors,
with a strong similarity to Incan temples. On the top it has
a dome covered by copper plate, which on its inside is covered
by an unconcluded mural of the artist, which will be left
intact. Murals that were supposed to narrate the history of
the American Man were not concluded, however, the Chapel will
hold some of Guayasamín's work as well as that of other
well-known Latin-American artists, from Pre-Columbian to contemporary.
The altar of the Chapel holds an eternal flame in defense
of peace and human rights. Open Tuesdays to Sundays 10h00
- 17h00. Address: Bosmediano 543 and José Carbo.
Phone: 246 5265/245 2938. Entrance fee: $3.Anhalzer-Valdivieso
Collection
Address: Colón Ave. E10-53. Phone: 25-41315.
The showrooms of the Anhalzer-Valdivieso Collection offer
visitors an image of the splendor of ancient Ecuador, with
a selected presentation of archeology, popular and colonial
art.
Open Mondays to Saturdays from 9h00-13h00 and from 15h00-19h00.
Entrance is free.
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