6 Iconic churches to visit in Quito: colonial gems and travel tips

Nestled high in the Andes, Quito was founded in 1534 and remains a UNESCO World Heritage city. Its narrow streets and plazas are still ringed by spectacular colonial churches. These include the Franciscans’ San Francisco, the Jesuits’ La Compañia, the Dominicans’ Santo Domingo, and others – all brimming with gold- leaf Baroque art.

Each of the churches you will read next has a distinct style – from Mudejar-Baroque to neo-Gothic – and a story to tell.

Basilica del Voto Nacional (Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón)

The Basilica of the National Vow looms atop San Juan Hill northeast of the Old Town. Construction began in 1892 and – famously – it remains technically unfinished. Locals love the legend that when La Basílica is finally completed, the world will end. This neo-Gothic giant (the largest of its kind in Latin America) was inspired by medieval French cathedrals. Its two towers reach 78 m, and unlike European gargoyles, they feature iguanas, tortoises, armadillos and condors – truly Ecuadorian gargoyles. Inside, 24 chapel shrines are draped in stained glass and wood, and visitors can climb (via elevator or steep stairs) to the roof-crossing walkway for panoramic views of the city (red-tiled rooftops framed by distant volcanoes).

• Highlights: Neo-Gothic spires, panoramic city views, Amazonian-animal gargoyles, the 24 chapel naves. Climb the towers for a 360° vista.
• History (brief): Conceived by Fr. Julio Matovelle and designed by French architect Emilio Tarlier, construction began in 1892 on a site overlooking Quito. Its lavish design includes 35 m-high votive chapels and a 73 m tall dome. It was consecrated in 1988, but work (and gold leaf) continues.
• Practical Info: Open daily (check the open hours, There is a small entrance fee of less than $5 USD for main church; and an extra fee to climb towers. Allow ~45–60 min (up to 1.5h with tower). Address: Venezuela and Carchi.
• Photo Idea: Capture the exterior from across the plaza as the sun hits its gray towers, or (with permission) a shot along the Gothic arch bridge inside. The animal gargoyles (like the frigatebird) make fun close-ups.

Convento de San Francisco (Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco)

The Church and Convent of San Francisco (1537–1705) is Quito’s oldest and grandest religious complex. Locally called “el San Francisco”, it earned nicknames like the “Escorial of the New World” for its vast scale: 3.5 hectares, multiple cloisters and temples, and over 3,500 pieces of colonial art inside. Its ornate Baroque facade and concave stone staircase (the Puente del Diablo, Devil’s Bridge) are distinctive. Inside, golden altarpieces by Quito School masters line the chapels, and at the high altar sits a celebrated statue of the Virgin of Quito (by Bernardo de Legarda).

• Highlights: Baroque/Manueline facade; Plaza de San Francisco fountain; rich colonial art and frescoes. See the Virgin of Quito sculpture and “Jesus del Gran Poder” by Casa de la Compañía teachers. Tour the Friar Pedro Gocial Museum and tiny Capilla de Cantuña, famed for its legend.
• Unique Anecdote: According to legend, indigenous benefactor Francisco Cantuña made a pact with the devil to finish the church’s atrium overnight, but fooled him by hiding one final stone. His story and half-painted self-portrait live on in Cantuña’s Chapel and tomb.
• Practical Info: The church is usually free to enter (though a donation is appreciated); a small fee is charged to tour the museum/convent, choir loft or climb narrow towers. Suggested visit: ~45–60 min for church alone; add ~30 min for convent museum. In front is Plaza San Francisco (with cafes and vendors). The Quito Tour Bus stops here; the Metro “San Francisco” station is nearby (a 5-min walk).
• Photo Idea: Snap the wide plaza with San Francisco’s triple-portal facade. At dusk, capture the illuminated staircase (Puente del Diablo). Inside, photograph the gilded main altar or the elaborate choir railing by Caspicara.

Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesus

Referred to simply as “La Compañia”, this Jesuit church (1605–1765) is Quito’s crowning Baroque wonder. Its stone facade is intricately carved, but the true marvel is inside: every surface gleams with gold leaf (over 160 kg of it). Dazzling retablos, columns, and domes turn light into a golden glow. Called the “Temple of Solomon of South America” and dubbed the “Golden Ember” by 18th-century travelers, it was personally blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and later visited by Pope Francis.

• Highlights: Gilded Baroque interior (“Golden Church”), cedar-carved altars, Virgin of Sorrows statue, and massive wooden dome. Each of its 12 side chapels is uniquely decorated. Guided tours (often required) point out details like the Sagrada Familia retablo and a 16th-century oil painting of The Adoration of the Magi. Note: photography is not allowed inside.
• Practical Info: Free self-guided entry; tours available daily (reserve through the church office). Since no photos are allowed inside, enjoy it quietly. Visit time ~30–45 min. Located a block from Plaza Grande (walking).
• Photo Idea: Exterior shots of the ornate white facade and green dome. (Inside is too well-lit for casual shooting.) Focus on the Latin inscription over the entrance or the delicate stone carvings of saints outside.

Catedral Metropolitana de Quito

As Quito’s “Mother Church”, the Metropolitan Cathedral (1535–1799) anchors the central Plaza Grande. Its style blends Gothic-Mudejar and Neoclassical elements. The first church on this site dates to 1545; successive earthquakes led to major reconstructions by the 18th century. Today the sober exterior belies a richly decorated interior. The nave is framed by massive wooden altarpieces gilded in colonial gold leaf. These retablos house painted sculptures by Quito School artists (notably Bernardo de Legarda) and surround a grand Assumption of the Virgin painting (1793) at the main altar.

• Highlights: Golden side altars, carved choir screen, and large colonial paintings. Do not miss the Arrastre de Caudas (a heritage Lenten procession) if visiting in Holy Week. Outside, the plaza view includes the Presidential Palace.
• Practical Info: Small entry fee (a few dollars). Visit time ~20–30 min. The cathedral is on the southwest side of Plaza Grande (main city square).
• Photo Idea: Capture the cathedral’s twin bell towers from Plaza Grande, framed by the equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar in the plaza (in front). Inside, the colorful ceiling coffers are photogenic (photography may be allowed with permission).

Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo

This Dominican complex (1541–1688) crowns a plaza to the north of the old town. Its most famous feature is the Capilla del Rosario (Chapel of the Rosary), a three-tiered Baroque shrine noted for an all-gold altarpiece and two green-tiled domes. In fact, Holy Week processions still wind through its open-air “Rosario Street” passage. The church’s exterior is relatively plain white with Moorish motifs, but inside it gleams with cedar wood and gold leaf. Ten ornate side chapels (each a golden world of paintings and carvings) flank the main nave. A high 38 m clocktower with an antique clock watches over Plaza Santo Domingo.

• Highlights: Capilla del Rosario (richly tiered golden altar of Mary and the Christ Child). The chapel even rests on a street arch (Arco de Santo Domingo) so a road passes beneath it. Explore the cloister’s Mudejar archways and the recently refurbished convent museum (tall paintings and friar relics).
• Practical Info: Enter the church for free (Pay only if you visit the small museum). Visit time ~20–30 min. The plaza outside (with a statue of independence hero Sucre) is lively.
• Photo Idea: Stand under the Arco de Santo Domingo and shoot upward at the caps of the Rosario chapel (the two green-tiled cupolas). Also try a shot of the clocktower against the evening sky.

Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (La Merced)

Often overlooked, La Merced is a Baroque jewel tucked two blocks from the main square. Its façade (1701–1736) is decorated with Moorish (mudejar) and Inca motifs, and a distinctive square bell-tower capped by a dome. The interior’s main altar (by Bernardo de Legarda) features 18th-century carved figures of the Virgin and Child, set against layers of gold. A highlight is the biblioteca de La Merced, a historic two-story colonial library with carved-wood spiral staircases.

• Highlights: Gilded high altar, Inca/Moorish stonework on front, and the beautiful baroque-carved wooden library (with thousands of colonial books). It was the first Mercedarian basilica in Ecuador.
• Practical Info: No fee. Quick stop ~15–20 min. Located just east of Plaza Grande (two blocks from the Cathedral); easily combined with a visit to adjacent Palace of Carondelet or El Panecillo views.
• Photo Idea: The white façade with its five domes against a blue sky. For something different, photograph the carved wooden spiral staircase inside the library (if access is allowed).

Conclusion: Experience Quito’s Spiritual Gems

Each church in Quito tells a piece of the city’s story – from the fusion “Escuela Quiteña” art inside San Francisco and La Compañia, to the dramatic Gothic outline of the Basilica high above town. Beyond their architectural splendor, these sacred spaces pulse with local tradition: from weekly masses to children lighting candles. Visitors should dress modestly (some sites ask for covered shoulders) and cherish a few quiet moments in these sanctuaries. In exploring Quito’s iconic churches, travelers step into living history while also tapping into the city’s cultural heart.