ATTRACTIONS

To discover the architectonic and artistic jewels of the colonial downtown of Quito, are experiences that the traveler can not leave aside, because this is the only way he will understand the essence and history of this Andean city, extremely difficult to forget.
Quito, in addition, can be the beginning point of fascinating adventures, which will take you to La Mitad del Mundo, the indigenous market of Otavalo, or the National park of Cotopaxi.

In the city

Colonial Quito: has an extension of 348 hectares. It is characterized by the facades of its tall adobe buildings, its narrow streets and the reddish roof tiles of the ceilings. The old churches, colonial convents and houses that border its streets and squares, make for a very attractive visit.

Plaza de la Independencia or Plaza Grande: It is the heart of Quito. It is flanked by the Cathedral (constructed in 1565, it shows Moorish influences and has a great amount of paintings and other works of art made by the best exponents of the School of Quito), the Palace of Government (its antiquity borders 400 years and in one of its inner patios the mural of the famous Guayasamín that represents the discovery of the Amazon river can be appreciated, the Archiepiscopal Palace and the City Hall.

Plaza de San Francisco: This architectonic complex with a church and a monastery, honours the patron saint of Quito. Its construction - on the remains of an Inca palace - was directed by the flamenco missionary Jodocko Ricke. The works began 50 days after the foundation of the city (1534), and it is considered the oldest of the continent. The complex has 104 Doric columns. It has images of the sun (the Inca God) that can be seen in the ceiling of the church. One of its most dear and curious jewels is the panel of the Immaculate Virgin of Quito (the only winged virgin of the world), work of the painter Bernardine de Legarda.

Iglesia de La Compañia: Because of its golden altars and its vaulted ceiling covered by fascinating paintings, this church, whose construction took more than 160 years, is an exceptional sample of the Quito colonial art and Baroque style. The temple began to be constructed between 1605 and 1606, but the last part of the work, the stone carved facade was concluded in 1766, the eve of the expulsion of the jesuits from Quito, decreed by King Carlos III.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo: Located in the restless square of the same name, this church is famous for its religious beauty and the excellence of the domes and sculptures that adorn the interior of the temple.

Iglesia de La Merced: Its 47 meters high tower is the tallest of old Quito. It is considered as one of the last churches constructed in the colonial period (the works began in 1700 and were finished in 1734). It has artistic works of great value and the oldest clock in town.

Monastery of San Agustin: It was once called the gold Convent, due to its excessive decoration. The first Act of Independence was signed (1809) in one of its rooms (called La Sala Capitular, whereas in its catacombs, are the remains of the Ecuadorians patriots, executed by the Spanish troops.

The Basilica: Blessed by Pope Juan Pablo II the 30th of January of 1985, this impressive Basilica was constructed like perpetual monument of the Consecration of Ecuador to the Heart of Jesus. The idea to build it was promoted by father Julio Matovelle in 1883.

Mirador de Panecillo: A good to see the dimensions and the layout of the old city. The Panecillo Hill was in the days of the Incas a temple of adoration to the sun. On its peak a gigantic image of the Virgin of the Americas looks over the city.

Modern Quito: The interesting points are the Alameda park (where a series of famous Latin American busts and a great monument to Simon Bolivar can be appreciated, an astronomical observatory, the church El Belén, the Legislative Palace, the park El Ejido, the House of the Ecuadorian Culture, the Amazonian Museum and the Guayasamín Museum, among others.