Churches
by Province:
Pichincha I Guayas
I Azuay
Pichincha |
In Quito
La
Compañia.- It has rich décor and facades including
a painting of Virgen Dolorosa framed in gold and emerald but as
with other treasures it is stored in the Banco Central del Ecuador
vaults and taken out only on special occasions or festivals under
strict security supervision.
This
Jesuit church is located on Calle Garcia Moreno, a block south
of Plaza de la Independencia.
La
Merced.- This church was constructed in the 17th century to
symbolize and commemorate Pichincha's volcanic eruptions that
had challenged the city and its occupants safety.
The
style is Baroque. Adjacent to the Church is Quito's most ancient
clock located inside a Monastery built in 1817.
The
main altar of the Monastery has been elaborately carved in wood
by Legarda.
The
Basilica.-
This
church has fine bronze doors and interesting gargoyles and is
encased in colorful stained glass windows.
The views are excellent here from the tower, there is also a coffee
place.
Originally construction began in 1926 but was only completed in
1999 due to lack of funding. It is located on Plaza de la Basílica
(Calle Venezuela)
San
Francisco.-
This is Quito's largest Church and S. America's first religious
retreat built by the Spaniards in 1553.
Here
you'll find a wide variety of art treasures for example, the Virgen
of Quito by Legarda showing the Virgin Mary with silver wings.
The paintings in the aisles are from Miguel de Santiago. He is
most famous for the paintings of Saint Francis found in the Monastery
of San Francisco. The ceiling has also been painstakingly carved
and also possesses a magnificent high gold altar while many good
wood carvings are also seen in the choir area. Viewed from outside
the two towers were destroyed in the 1868 by an earthquake and
have been rebuilt additions to the original architecture. Finally
a small statue stands at the foot of the stairwell to the church
portal depicting Fray Jodoco Ricke who sowed the first seeds of
wheat in Ecuador, he was a Flemish Franciscan.
Cantuna
Chapel.- This Chapel has interesting fine detailed sculptures
and adjoins the San Francisco.
San
Agustin.- This Monastery houses the burial grounds for many
Ecuadorians heroes. Though renovation has been required due to
past earth quakes the gilded altars and carved columns remain
since it was built in the 16th century. There are very nice cloisters
on three sides of the building and were the treaty of independence
was signed from Spain in August 10, 1809. It was also the first
university in Quito also formed in the 16th century and named
Universidad de San Fulgencio. It also has a nice fountain cut
from a single stone and many paintings worth viewing inside. It
is located on Flores and Mejia.
San
Blas.- On Guayaquil and 10 de Agosto.
La
Concepcion.- Located on Mejía and García Moreno.
San
Diego.- The collage paintings of this church are very original
with fabric sewn onto the canvas of various figures. Located by
the cemetery of San Diego, west of the Panecillo.
|
Guayas |
In Guayaquil
Santo
Domingo.- This is Guayaquil's first church and was founded
in 1548 by the Dominicans but was burned and sacked in 1624 by
pirates and again was reconstructed from wood to concrete in 1938.
It is located on Rocafuerte and Juan Coronel next to the Las
Peñas district.
The
Cathedral.-
The Cathedral was originally built in wooden formation in 1695
and survived many fires. It was rebuilt in 1822. Then in 1924.
The present gothic style building was started and received its
inauguration in the 1950s. This church is located in Chimborazo
and Clemente Ballén opposite Parque Seminario.
La
Merced.- Located on Manuel Rendón and Pedro Carbo.
A beautiful church.
San
Francisco.- Located on 9 de Octubre and Pedro Carbo, is another
notable church that is woth visiting.
|
Azuay |
In Cuenca
El
Sagrario.- Known as the old Cathedral, built on former Inca
structure foundations and footings. Some of these original blocks
are still visible today. El Sagrario construction was begun in
1557 when modern Cuenca was founded. It is located on the main
plaza, Parque Abdón Calderón.
Catedral
de la Inmaculada.- Initially this structure was meant to be
the largest Cathedral in South America but miscalculations by
architects on the foundations, it was made much smaller because
the architects feared it would collapse. The ambiance of colors
reflected from the stained glass windows coupled with nice inner
décor and gold altar make it a worthwhile visit. It also
has a famous Virgin image (Crowned).
There
are other churches in Cuenca which are worth visiting such as:
San Francisco, San Blas, Santo Domingo and El
Cenáculo.
El
Turi church and mirador.- Has great views. El Turi gives full
tiled panorama explaining what you are seeing. It is located south
on Avenida Fray Vicente Solano past the football stadium. Next
to the church is an orphanage also run by the Church.
El
Carmen de la Asunción.- This 17th-century church has
a flower market in the Plazoleta El Carmen and is
close to La Inmaculada church.
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