The Historic Center Of Quito And Its Heritage Importance
The historic center of Quito is of enormous importance and interest. The sample is that in its barely 3.75 km² it houses no less than 4,286 properties inventoried as heritage. Of all of them, 130 are listed as monumental.
Not only that, it can boast of being the best preserved historical complex in Latin America, and also one of the most important in Latin America. In fact, it has been a World Heritage Site since 1978.
Next, we will discover some of the most outstanding monuments and buildings that the historic center of Quito houses. Can you come with us?
Basilica of the National Vow
The Basilica of the National Vow is the largest neo-Gothic temple in all of America, measuring 150 meters in length and 35 in width. It can recall, to some extent, cathedrals like Burgos or Notre Dame in Paris.
On the other hand, it is highly recommended to climb its towers to enjoy spectacular views of the city, as well as El Panecillo and the volcanoes that surround it. And a curiosity, the gargoyles, instead of having the shape of strange characters, here they have that of animals of the country.
Metropolitan Cathedral
From the Basilica of the National Vow we went to the Metropolitan Cathedral, located in the Independence Square of Quito. It is the highest-ranking Catholic temple in the country. Its origin dates back to the 16th century, although it has undergone various reconstructions after earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Inside it houses numerous works of art, paintings and sculptures made by artists of great importance during the colonial and republican times. One of the most important is the canvas of The Death of the Virgin . It is a work by Miguel de Santiago and is on the wall of the retrochoir.
Other churches in the historic center of Quito
In the historic center of Quito you can find numerous churches, but there are some that stand out. One of the most important is that of the Company. It is one of the best baroque architecture of the entire continent. The works, inspired by the Church of the Gesù in Rome, began in the early seventeenth century.
Equally recommended is the church of San Francisco, the largest of the architectural ensembles that exist in the historic centers of Latin American cities. Also noteworthy are that of El Sagrado, in the Italian Renaissance style, and that of Santo Domingo, which dates from the 17th century and has a neo-Gothic main altar.
Carondelet Palace
It is the seat of the Government and the official residence of the President of Ecuador. Like the Metropolitan Cathedral, it is located in the Plaza de la Independencia. In fact, it is the nerve center of it, where you can also visit the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, the Pizarro Palace or the House of the Mayors.
The Carondelet Palace forms, together with the Vice-Presidency Palace, the so-called Carondelet Complex. The latter was built in the 1920s and has a stone base and two floors with double height cylindrical columns.
Museums in the historic center of Quito
Among the museums, the City Museum stands out . Inside you can learn about the history of Quito and the building that houses it, the old San Juan de Dios hospital. This was active for 409 years, until it closed in 1974.
Also worth noting is the Casa de Sucre Museum, dedicated to the memory of its most famous occupants: Antonio José de Sucre, a Latin American pro-independence hero, and his wife, Mariana Carcelén. In this way you can get to know the couple’s personal belongings, but also maps and documents from the time of independence.
As you can see, it is not an exaggeration to emphasize the importance and interest of the historic center of Quito. And that we have only discovered a few of the many buildings and monuments that it houses.
Main Photography: Serena_Tang / Flickr.com
