The Church and Convent of San Francisco

In Quito’s Old Town, cloisters, churches, and a courtyard make up a complex containing over 3,500 works of art and a library containing thousands of writings. It was built for the Order of the Franciscan Monks, and serves the same purpose today, although it now welcomes over a million annual visitors. The architecture maintains Baroque decorative features beneath a Moorish-style ceiling. Some parts date back to the 1500s. Together, the complex is the oldest religious site in Ecuador. It was built over an Inca temple, giving the old church more height than the surrounding buildings. From the entrance all throughout the church are Incan representations of the sun. Theses images, combined with Christian iconography, were meant to encourage the indigenous people to come to the church and join the Christian religion.

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Address:

Plaza San Francisco, Quito

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Saturday 7:00 am – 12:00 pm, 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm, Sunday 7:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Phone: +593 99 277 7487

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Free

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Guided Tour Information

Guides will take you through the complex for a small donation, explaining its history, as there are multiple legends surrounding the complex, including the tale of the architect Cantuña, who tricked the devil into building the atrium. You might see monks passing through one of the cloisters, or birds nesting in the garden courtyard. Admire 3,500 works of religious art in the museum. Check out the library, possessing thousands of historic documents and books, and head down to the catacombs, where you’ll find an artistic gift shop. Also take the time to see the sculpture, Virgin of Quito, in the middle of altar. It was designed by Bernardo de Lagarda in the 18th century and has become not only a city a icon, but one of the most well-known and replicated sculptures in Ecuador.

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

What’s nearby?

The wide stairs of the church fan out onto a plaza. On an adjacent road, Casa del Alabado (Cuenca N1-41, Bolívar) is a museum in a restored 17th century house that thematically displays Pre-Columbian cultures. Entrance costs $4, and a guide book costs another $4. Besides the beautiful displays spread over eight rooms, there’s also a cafe in the quiet courtyard that might provide more privacy and tranquility than the busy plaza.

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Interested in touring Quito and visiting the Church and Convent of San Francisco? Clink on the link below and explore the incredible country of Ecuador.

Discover Galapagos Islands – 9 Days

Title	Address	Description
	Cuenca 477, Quito 170401, Ecuador	The Church and Convent of San Francisco

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Address:

Hours of Operation:

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Phone: +593 99 277 7487

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Guided Tour Information

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

What’s nearby?

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

Interested in touring Quito and visiting the Church and Convent of San Francisco? Clink on the link below and explore the incredible country of Ecuador.

Discover Galapagos Islands – 9 Days

The Church and Convent of San Francisco

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