San Francisco Religious Complex

Temple, museum, convent cloister and university of theology and philosophy for the formation of catholic priests, San Francisco has worldwide fame. The complex is located in the historic center of the city of Quito, capital of the Republic of Ecuador and cultural heritage of humanity, in front of the square that has the same name. San Francisco is also known as "El Escorial del Nuevo Mundo", for its 13 cloisters, 3 temples and its huge atrium, totaling 40,000 square meters of construction.

 

There is much to see and do in San Francisco, because in addition to its artistic heritage, it concentrates all kinds of activities: religious, political, educational and popular. As a container for the cultural heritage of Ecuador, it has a collection of over 4.000 works of colonial art, especially of the renowned “Quito School” founded by San Pedro Gocial. The museum takes its name; it has 7 rooms and two courtyards that you can visit.

 

The temple is open to the public; it stands out the stairway that leads from the square to the atrium and the Cantuña chapel, known as “The Sistine Chapel of Quito's Art”. The San Francisco’s square, located in front of the church, was the scene of the most important historical events of Ecuador in the 20th century. It is also place for street art, a popular market and social interaction site.

 

From 1535, the construction of the church and its complex extends for 150 years, giving rise to the first legends of the city of San Francisco from Quito, among them "The mysterious finger" and "Cantuña". Narrated by generations, these stories are part of the cultural heritage of Ecuador, which demonstrates the importance of this temple of legends and colonial art.