One of the great attractions of my recent trip to Quito, riding a Ecuador, was undoubtedly the possibility of seeing the splendid interior decorated in gold leaf of the Church of the company, considered as the Jewel of America.
The visit largely confirmed expectations, but if I have to say which was the church whose image has stayed the most in my retina, it is undoubtedly that of San Francisco.
Quito It is a city that will surprise you with the large number of churches which is concentrated in its historic center.
Along with those mentioned, it is also worth highlighting the Cathedral, Tabernacle Church or, in great contrast to the rest, the National Basilica neogothic style.
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What to see in the Plaza de San Francisco in Quito
But if there is a corner that will surely focus your attention during your visit of the historic center of Quito, that is the San Francisco square, where the church of the same name is located.
It is a huge square with a large esplanade in front of the long façade of the church and the attached monastery, one of the main places you will pass if you sign up for a guided tour of Quito with guide in spanish.
This large square will be very easy for you to identify when go up to the Panecillo to enjoy the best panoramic views of Quito.
And it is also a place where various public events are usually held.
In the same square, the beautiful building with a white façade that houses the luxurious Boutique hotel known as Gangotena House, recently renovated.
If you go up to the terrace of this Spanish-owned hotel, you will have an excellent panoramic view of the square and the city.
History of the San Francisco de Quito church
San Francisco It is one of the oldest churches in the city as construction began in 1535, just a year after the arrival of Sebastian de Benalcázar together with the Franciscans to conquer the old Inca enclave that was Quito.
I will tell you that the presence of the Incas in Ecuador was not very long, barely 80 years, and only 20 years in the north of the current Ecuadorian country.
But it is considered that the San Francisco church It was built on the remains of an ancient Inca temple.
What's more, its special orientation means that during the winter solstice the main altar is illuminated by the sun.
The construction of the church of San Francisco was especially rapid, since this monastic complex was the work of Francis Fray Jodoco Ricke It was completed in just 70 years.
Of the importance of church of San Francisco in Quito You will have a taste when you know that it is the most loved church by the people of Quito today.
The Franciscans, the order that continues to run it, organize in eastern one of the most important processions in South America.
What to see when visiting the San Francisco church
When you visit its interior, you will see that it shows an eclectic style decoration, where you can see everything from Romanesque columns to baroque and Rococo decoration.
Of course, you will be struck by its sumptuous decoration where gold leaf is also used, a method to attract the attention of parishioners who in this way were attracting Catholicism.
Don't miss the choir either, with the figures of the Franciscan friars on the wooden benches and, above all, the excellent panoramic view of the interior of the church.
The complex of the square, church and convent of San Francisco It occupies up to three hectares, and is the largest religious site in the Ecuadorian capital.
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Museum of the San Francisco church in Quito
During your visit you can walk through the large cloister where you will see numerous palm trees, and also explore the Fray Pedro Gocial museum where the original sculpture of the Winged Virgin of Quito, work of Bernardo de Legarda, which served as the basis for the construction of the great sculpture of the Panecillo.
In this museum you have a sample of the colonial art with works by artists of the Quito school from the 16th and 18th centuries.
And in this regard I tell you that it was precisely the Franciscans who founded the first art school in Quito.
In addition, the museum entrance gives you access to the aforementioned church choir.
Schedules and ticket prices for the San Francisco church museum
The Visiting hours of the San Francisco church museum They are, Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 17,30:9 p.m., and on Sundays, from 13 a.m. to XNUMX p.m.
El price of admission It's 2 dollars.
Photos San Francisco church
For your future visit, here is more photos of the square, church and convent of San Francisco in Quito.
Excellent guide, I'm planning to travel there. Thanks for the information.
Quite an excellent place to vacation and visit our attractions.
What a wonderful place with so much culture and colonial art, wonderful!!!
Good evening, please be kind enough to give information about the Church of San Francisco.
Quito is like a great museum where you can find churches, convents and museums that tell its history from pre-Inca times to the Spanish conquest, there are also paintings and sculptures from the Quito school, many of them are very impressive due to the techniques they used. to evangelize, such as oil paintings on canvas with techniques such as Tenebrism or Chiaroscuro.
In particular, the church of San Francisco draws my attention because of the legend of the indigenous Cantuña who sold his soul, the market called tiánguez and also the sculpture made by Legarda that inspired the image of the Panecillo.