Coming back to Quito: Day 2 in the City

After a long overnight bus ride, our group was so glad to be able to return to our LEED certified hotel before going out for a day in the city. After breakfast, we set out for a walking tour of the city. Declared as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1978, Quito is famous for historical and cultural preservation. Our first stop was the Basilica del Voto Nacional, the largest Neo-Gothic Basilica in the Americas. Instead of typical gargoyles, the basilica includes grotesques of native Ecuadorian animals like iguanas and tortoises. 

We then visited Independence Square, the city's governmental center and the largest and least-altered historic site in the Americas. The buildings come from a wide range if architectural styles, art, and sculpture which has been mostly inspired by religion. 

One of the most interesting aspects of our visit was the Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesus. Built from 1605 to 1765, it is exemplary of Ecuadorian baroque style. This church was shaped by Jesuit priests who were skilled in architecture, painting, and sculpture. The church is gilded in 23 carat gold leaf, and the fusion of European and Indigenous Ecuadorian art in the construction of the church makes it truly unique. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but the door is exemplary of the artistry involved. 

We also visited the Convent of Saint Francis, which includes beautifully manicured gardens and a museum full of Franciscan religious art. 

After a lunch of some DELICIOUS empanadas, we drove about 20 minutes outside the city to the Mitad del Mundo. It is the location of the Equatorial line that includes a museum which we were led on a tour through. 

Quito is a diverse and colorful city that all of us have come to love, and that we are so thankful to have been able to hang out in for awhile.