Learn about Quito’s Franciscan Orderheritage at the impressive San Francisco Church (Iglesia y Monasterio de SanFrancisco). This complex, built in the 16th century, includes atemple, several chapels and a convent. All together, this historic sitedominates two blocks of Quito’s old town.
The church’s foundations were builtshortly after Spanish settlers established Quito. Stroll its grounds anddiscover 13 cloisters, elaborate Moorish-style designs and a collection ofartworks.
As you walk towards the church from theadjacent Plaza de San Francisco, notice the Renaissance and Manneristinfluences on its multi-towered exterior. The plaza’s perceptible slope is dueto its construction on top of an ancient Incan temple site. Take a tour tolearn more about the site’s curious history.
Climb the staircase leading to thechurch and note the unusually wide steps. This feature is supposedly anintentional design so that visitors have to watch their footing, naturallybowing their heads.
At the entrance, look out for Incansymbology, including representations of the sun, which were installed toencourage indigenous people to enter the church. The mixture of Incan andCatholic iconography is commonplace throughout the church’s interior. In theilluminated nave, look to the ceiling and admire the Moorish-styledecoration, which contrasts with the church’s Baroque-style chapels and altars.
Explore the church and browse some of acollection of 3,500 artworks. Many pieces are drawn from the Quito School ofArt. Among these, look for the celebrated Virgin of Quito, the city’s iconic18th-century sculpture. Find some sunlight in the church courtyard and thenbrowse the adjacent library. Be sure to visit the church’s catacombs, whichhave been converted from macabre halls to a unique arts and crafts store.
Find the San Francisco Church in Quito’sOld Town, near San Francisco Plaza. Get there by trolleybus and stop atIndependence Square, which is a 5-minute walk away. Alternatively, paid parkingis available on surrounding streets. The church holds a weekly Sunday mass.
