A guided tour of the old town of Quito
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The Centro Histórico
If you want to get to know Quito better in a short time, you should go to its old town, because from here everything is within walking distance. The Centro Histórico offers not only a great ambience, but also large squares, several magnificent churches, and great insights into the present and past life of the Ecuadorians. Let’s go together on a guided tour of the OLD TOWN OF QUITO!
Santo Domingo
The “Plaza Santo Domingo”, which means “Square of the Holy Sunday” in German, is spacious and surrounded by beautiful houses.
The church of Santo Domingo gives the square its name and is relatively simple, both inside and out, compared to other churches in Quito.
It is possible to visit the church during a mass and thus experience an Ecuadorian church service up close. Many years ago, a part was added to the church of Santo Domingo that juts out over the street like a bridge. Due to the fact that the baby Jesus of the church was constantly equipped with new clothes, even an extra dressing room for the clothes had to be added. This is visible through the dark stones next to the church walls.
In Quito you can find everything!
In Quito it is always worthwhile to walk through the streets. Stores line up and offer almost the same products. What leads to strong competition in western countries and drives away competitors, works perfectly in Quito. Entire streets lined only with cotton stores, stores for birthday items, etc., are designed to allow customers to compare prices and products and quickly find the right item. Thus, the center of Quito is not only beautiful and diverse, but at the same time extremely customer friendly.
Those who have a craving for sweets can also find stores that make and offer their own sweets on a daily basis. From chocolates, nuts and chips to lollipops and pigskin snacks, everything is available. Furthermore, merchants on the streets of Quito also sell regional fruits, pictures, sunglasses, or the like. The rule is that nothing is sold in Quito that does not exist.
In addition, some chocolate stores also offer cocoa samples or chocolate to taste. For example, chocolate with 100 percent cocoa content or chocolate with ginger flavor can be tested. If you want, you can of course buy the chocolate afterwards. One place that offers chocolate tasting is “Yumbos”. Chocolateria “Yumbos” (Calle Sebastián de Benalcazar N2-26. Segundo Piso) is located in a courtyard and makes the chocolate partially handmade and also offers it for sale.
Chocolateria Yumbos also has the perfect view of the “Plaza San Franzisco” and the Catholic church of the same name. This can be entered free of charge for a visit or for church services. The church, which is decorated with a lot of gold, is equipped with a Jesus figure at the altar, which is of great importance for the people living in Quito, because it is carried through the whole city in the course of a procession on Good Friday.
Another church is the “Iglesia de Compañia de Jesús”, built by the Jesuits from 1605 to 1655. It is probably the most magnificent church in Quito, which you don’t notice from the outside. But inside the church there are about 40-60 kilograms of gold. The facade is designed in baroque style and with many details, but still unobtrusive. Admission to the church costs $5 per person and is a must-do for tourists visiting the historic center of Ecuador’s capital.
These days, the church is rented out for weddings or concerts, among other things, and is no longer used for religious services.
The Plaza Grande and the Basílica - two impressive places in Quito!
The “Plaza Grande” is only a few minutes away from the “Iglesisa de Compañia de Jesús”. The big square is surrounded by all important buildings and is therefore a significant place for Quito. On the one hand, the Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, a theater, and the Presidential Palace, where the Ecuadorian President works and lives, are located in the “Plaza Grande”.
The church “Basílica del Voto Nacional” is also within walking distance. However, the fact that this is located a few meters higher up should be considered when walking there. Depending on your fitness, of course, you can take a break and a short walk in the street shops as a breather. The Basílica, unlike the other historic buildings, is higher because it was built with the aim of being able to see it from all over Quito. The church can be entered from the inside by foreign tourists (price about 8.50 dollars). The entrance fee is worth it, because the towers are open for tours, so you have a great view over all of Quito from up there. After all, if everyone in all of Quito is supposed to see this church, then everyone can see all of Quito from up there!
Viewpoints in Quito
Another great viewpoint is the “Centro cultural Itchimbia” from which you get a great view over the capital of Ecuador and can see wonderfully how long and wide the city of Quito is. With a length of about 25 kilometers and a width of 4 kilometers, Quito stretches across the country and is surrounded by many mountains and volcanoes. Also, the “Virgin de Panecillo”, the Virgin, which is located on a hill in Quito and visible from many points of the city, represents a popular tourist viewpoint and is also recognizable from the “Centro cultural Itchimbia”.
As a conclusion, a city tour through the Centro Histórico of Quito is highly recommended! Insider tips and exclusive historical background stories can report the city guides to buildings, streets and stores and thus provide a great, comprehensive insight into the city and life in Quito.
Explore the Quito Travel Guide for more insights and ideas to enhance your journey
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