Church of Saint Frinci
Quito, Ecuador
Open to visitors
The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.
Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.
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The Basilica and Convent of San Francisco in Quito, Ecuador, begun in 1535 under the direction of Jodoco Ricke, is the oldest and most significant religious structure in Ecuador. Built in the Mudéjar architectural style, this vast complex sprawls across three and a half hectares and comprises thirteen cloisters, three temples, a large atrium, and approximately 40,000 square meters of construction—the largest architectural ensemble within the historic centers of South America, earning it the epithet "El Escorial of the New World." The structure embodies a mixture of architectural styles refined over more than 150 years of construction and is celebrated for its Mannerist-Baroque facade and the concave-convex staircase connecting the Plaza de San Francisco to the atrium. The church contains more than 3,500 works of colonial art, including masterworks of the Colonial Quito School of Art, which originated within its walls, as well as a remarkable Franciscan library. Now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for the City of Quito, the complex remains active with religious, educational, and public services.
Architect
Movement
- Built
- Type
- church building
- Place
- Quito, Ecuador
This building on
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Location