We Visit The Basilica Of The National Vow In Quito
The Basilica of the National Vow in Quito is one of the essential tourist spots that must be known on any trip to the capital of Ecuador. For this reason, we offer you all the necessary information so that you can organize the visit to the temple and do not miss any detail. Do you dare to know more about this impressive building?
Hours and location of the Basilica of the National Vow in Quito
The Basilica of the National Vow is open to the public from Monday to Friday from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon. On weekends he does it from six in the morning to six thirty in the afternoon.
Within those hours you can go and also go up to the viewpoint, from where you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of Quito. The price is two US dollars.
On the other hand, the basilica is located in the sector known as Santa Prisca, on Venezuela and Carchi streets, in the historic center of the city, one of the most beautiful and best preserved in all of Latin America. When we meet here it will be very easy to get to the temple.
After visiting the National Basilica of the Vow, you can take advantage of other places of interest in the old part of the city, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral or the Church of San Francisco, with Mudejar, Mannerist and Baroque influences.
Nor should you miss the Carondelet Palace, seat of the Government and residence of the President of Ecuador; or the Metropolitan Cultural Center.
What to see in the Basilica of the National Vow
This temple is the most important neo-Gothic architectural work in Ecuador, as well as the largest in America. It has a central nave in which fourteen bronze images belonging to eleven apostles and three evangelists are arranged.
From the altar you can see the colossal statue of the Virgin of Quito, on the loma del Panecillo, a small hill in the city. You just have to look through the heart of Jesus in the main rose window. The rest of the rosettes are representations of lilies and orchids, symbolic flowers of Quito and Ecuador, respectively.
Precisely, the stained glass windows are outstanding elements in the basilica. They have the peculiarity that, when recounting the scenes from the life of Jesus, they show the endemic flora of the country. In addition, the borders offer in their designs the bands used by the indigenous people of the area.
On the other hand, under the basilica is the National Pantheon of Heads of State. Four of them are buried there: Andrés F. Córdova, Camilo Ponce Enríquez, Mariano Suárez Veintimilla and Antonio Flores Jijón. However, the crypt is made up of fifty French marble tombs in total.
Climb to the top of the Basilica of the National Vow
As we mentioned before, going up to the viewpoint of the Basilica del Voto Nacional allows us to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of the city, which includes El Panecillo and the volcanoes that surround it. It can be accessed through an elevator, but if you want to ascend to the highest point you have to go up an almost vertical staircase.
The viewpoint is located in the middle part of the towers and is part of a cafeteria where you can sit down for a drink and regain strength before ascending further or continuing with the tourist visit. At the same level there is a small museum that is worth visiting.
On the other hand, the highest tower is one hundred and fifteen meters high and is known as the Tower of the Condors, since instead of gargoyles it has condors, which are the national bird of Ecuador. This, together with the other tower of the temple, has a set of bronze bells and a clock with six spheres.
We hope that all this information, in addition to being useful, has served to encourage you to get to know one of the most outstanding buildings in Quito and, why not say it, in all of Latin America. The Basilica of the National Vow is sure to surprise you.
