Old Town : Quito, Ecuador 2004

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Old Town : Quito, Ecuador : Trip Report

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Old Town Quito

Most of the major tourist sites are in Quito's Old Town. There you will find all the historic churches and other sites. It's been deemed a historic site by UNESCO so hopefully it'll stay preserved this way for a long time. A traveler I met referred to Quito as a "manageable city" compared to other cities in South America in that it is small, relatively clean and efficient. I was able to get around downtown Quito completely by foot so I would have to agree that it's manageable.

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Plaza del Teatro and Teatro Sucre. Viewed: 280 times.	Narrow steep streets. Viewed: 272 times.	Police in full riot gear were everywhere. Viewed: 300 times.
Plaza de la Indepedencia. Viewed: 335 times.	Close-up of the monument in the center of the Plaza. Viewed: 198 times.	Colonial architecture of the Empresa del Centro Histórico. Viewed: 191 times.
The Cathedral. Viewed: 252 times.	Guards outside the tomb of Mariscal Sucre. Viewed: 231 times.	I think this was a gift from Simon Bolivar to commemorate the death of Mariscal Sucre. Viewed: 162 times.
Various plaques on the walls. Viewed: 125 times.	Nicely painted domed ceiling. Viewed: 129 times.	One of the frescoes near the dome. Viewed: 125 times.
Behind the altar was this smaller altar of Nuestra Senora de los Delores. Viewed: 118 times.	The ornate main altar. Viewed: 229 times.	Palacio del Gobierno. Viewed: 162 times.
Zoomed in as I wasn't able to get closer due to access being blocked. Viewed: 122 times.	Signs for the upcoming Miss Universe were everywhere. Viewed: 111 times.	Possibly La Compañía de Jesús. Viewed: 180 times.
Another angle of the church. Viewed: 185 times.	More police on horseback. Viewed: 176 times.	A woman dressed in indigenous clothes. Viewed: 214 times.
The protesters made their way to the main plaza. Viewed: 155 times.	La Virgen de Quito. Viewed: 293 times.	Looking back down the street at La Basilica. Viewed: 252 times.
Another church in Old Town. Viewed: 147 times.	Different angle of same church. Viewed: 158 times.	Street scene showing an electric bus and one of the really nice bus stops. Viewed: 190 times.

Monastery of San Francisco

The Monastery of San Francisco was the first monastery and convent in Quito. The Museo Franciscano was inside the Monastery. The english speaking guide gave me a great tour but I was disappointed I was not allowed to take any pictures of the artifacts, just the monastery grounds.

Inside the museum was an extensive collection of religious artifacts mostly made by Ecuadorians. There were various carved wood figures which are carried in ceremonial processions, tons of paintings and a unique collection of painted alabaster. Most of the artifacts dated to the early years of the Monastery and reflected the beliefs and traditions of the Franciscan Order.

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Plaza San Francisco.
Viewed: 195 times.
The ornate ceiling in the entrance.
Viewed: 121 times.
The door was also quite ornate.
Viewed: 120 times.

One of the courtyards inside.
Viewed: 152 times.
This was the first fountain in Quito dating back to the 17th century.
Viewed: 132 times.
Ornate ceiling inside.
Viewed: 111 times.

Viewed: 111 times.
Nice.
Viewed: 112 times.
Another courtyard.
Viewed: 96 times.

I forget the significance of this stone.
Viewed: 94 times.
The main courtyard from the second floor balcony.
Viewed: 115 times.
The balcony.
Viewed: 109 times.

You can see homes on the hills surrounding the city.
Viewed: 123 times. $Fat American posing for a \$
Fat American posing for a "postcard shot".
Viewed: 204 times.
Plaza San Francisco with La Virgen in the background.
Viewed: 149 times.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
Plaza San Francisco. Viewed: 195 times.	The ornate ceiling in the entrance. Viewed: 121 times.	The door was also quite ornate. Viewed: 120 times.
One of the courtyards inside. Viewed: 152 times.	This was the first fountain in Quito dating back to the 17th century. Viewed: 132 times.	Ornate ceiling inside. Viewed: 111 times.
Viewed: 111 times.	Nice. Viewed: 112 times.	Another courtyard. Viewed: 96 times.
I forget the significance of this stone. Viewed: 94 times.	The main courtyard from the second floor balcony. Viewed: 115 times.	The balcony. Viewed: 109 times.
You can see homes on the hills surrounding the city. Viewed: 123 times.	$Fat American posing for a \$ Fat American posing for a "postcard shot". Viewed: 204 times.	Plaza San Francisco with La Virgen in the background. Viewed: 149 times.

Church of La Basílica

Although La Basílica was begin very recently in 1926 and is technically still "under construction." It was very interesting to me as I'm a sucker for Gothic architecture and I noticed the church as I walked around the city. The interior was rather dull but the highlight was that for a small fee I got a brief tour of the inside then climbed several staircases to take in the incredible views from the top. There is one balcony that looks back at Old Town but then you cross a bridge literally walking "through" the roof of the church to the tower on the other side where you climb a couple more sets of very steep staircases (I would almost call them ladders) to the best views of the city.

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture
Church of La Basilica. Viewed: 129 times.	I'm a sucker for Gothic architecture. Viewed: 139 times.	The cool tower you can climb into. Viewed: 112 times.
Corn growing out front? Viewed: 94 times.	Narrow steeps street out front. Viewed: 87 times.	The balcony with a very nice view. Viewed: 90 times.
Nice entrance. Viewed: 99 times.	Inside of the church from the balcony. Viewed: 144 times.	Stained glass at the back of the church. Viewed: 120 times.
More stained glass. Viewed: 95 times.	And some more. Viewed: 88 times.	La Virgen can be seen clearly. Viewed: 140 times.
$The rickety bridge \$ The rickety bridge "through" the roof. Viewed: 142 times.	View of New Town. Viewed: 105 times.	Climbing up even higher. Viewed: 108 times.
More views of the modern part of the city. Viewed: 120 times.	Another angle. Viewed: 121 times.	Cool shot back towards the clock tower. Hmm, their clock is off. Viewed: 128 times.
Amazing panoramic view of Old Town from the balcony. Viewed: 360 times.

Comments From People Like You! Old Town : Quito, Ecuador 2004	add a comment
Elizabeth & Tom Bell 09-Sep-2005 15:33
`We are just now labeling our digital photo printouts from our February, 2005, trip. I couldn't remember which churches were which in our photos. Your site helped me figure all of them out. Thanks a bunch. We are probably returning to Ecuador again next February. It is a wonderful country to visit. Elizabeth`

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