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To celebrate the year of the Bicentenary here in Quito, we have designed a new tour for visitors to explore the buildings and sights related to the struggle for Independence that took place in the Ecuadorian capital at the beginning of the 19th century.
View a walking route on our digital map here Find details of the sites to visit below. A Bit of Background - The Quito Revolution of 1809 The first struggles for freedom in the Americas emerged almost three centuries after the Spanish Crown imposed its rule over the continent. In Quito, a group of patriots, bound by their commitment to launch a revolution, met in each other’s homes in the months running up to August 1809. Very special conditions were required to ensure the success of the revolt. Quito, the only center for university education in the country at the turn of the 19th century, had been nourished by the ideas of the Enlightenment in Europe and of French radicals, whose works could be found in the libraries of the religious orders, as well as in the homes of the principal leaders of the uprising. The ideas of the French and American revolutions had an important impact in South America. The most noteworthy of the patriots was Eugenio Espejo, an authentic herald of Independence, who protested against the injustices of colonial rule tirelessly and fearlessly. Many of the ideas and actions of this group of patriots are to be found in the symbols cast in the commemorial monument erected to Liberty at the center of Quito’s main square in 1909. Many of Espejo’s followers eventually orchestrated the 1809 revolt, which refused to recognize the authority of the Spanish Count Ruiz de Castilla and instead appointed the Marquess of Selva Alegre, Juan Pío Montúfar, as President of the Government Council. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of this struggle for freedom, we invite you to tour some of Quito’s historical sites that recall with pride the “First Cry for Independence” of the Americas. Enjoy the tour! View a walking route on our digital map here 1.Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square) At its heart rises the monument commemorating the heroes of the Independence struggles, erected in 1809 for the first centenary of the Quito Revolution. more information... 2.Palacio Presidencial The symmetrical white stucco façade of the Presidential Palace is noteworthy for its long series of sturdy columns crowned by a wrought iron balcony inspired by the one at the Tuileries Palace in Paris and which was a gift from the French Government in the 19th century. To visit the palace, you must first pass by its standing guard, the elegantly uniformed Tarqui Grenadiers, to visit its principal rooms, especially the long hall with the portraits of all of Ecuador’s presidents, as well as a collection of gifts made to Ecuador, including paintings from the Colombian artist Fernando Botero, statues, typical costumes, saddles and embroidery work. more information... 3.La Catedral Metropolitana The Metropolitan Cathedral was built between 1562 and 1567. It is the oldest cathedral in South America. Its walls and domes have been the witnesses of all the capital’s major historical events. As a resting place for the country’s rulers and heroes of Independence, the Cathedral is full of secrets. The memorial plaques on its outer walls pay tribute to the fathers of the Independence. The mortal remains of the most famous of the heroes in the wars of Independence, the Venezuelan Antonio José de Sucre, rest in a small chapel inside the cathedral. more information... 4.Centro Cultural Metropolitano, Museo de Cera The Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum provides a wax reenactment of what occurred on August 2, 1810: a group of patriots wanted to forcefully free their comrades held in the headquarters of the Royal Governorship since the revolt of August 10, 1809, but the plan failed and repression by the soldiers of the Spanish Crown was brutal. Three hundred died on a day of heroism and tragedy. The wax figures were carved in 1970 by the French artist Alexander Barbieri with the help of Ecuadorian artists. more information... 5.El Sagrario The parish church of The Sacrarium was recorded in the First Property Registry Ledger distributed to the Residents of the City of Quito. Construction, however, was only finished in 1617 thanks to the zeal and financial contributions of the Holy Sacrament Brotherhood. On November 4, 1694, the architect José Jaime Ortiz, who had arrived from Alicante (Spain), signed the contract for building the Church of Our Lord of the Blessed Sacrament. more information... 6.Museo Casa de Sucre Antonio José de Sucre led the army that defeated the Spanish royalist forces in 1822 and secured freedom for the Real Audiencia de Quito (Quito’s Royal Governorship). The museum is housed in the residence that Sucre shared with his wife, the Quito-born Mariana Carcelén. It is decorated with furniture of the time, providing a genuine snapshot of the troubled period following the wars of Independence. more information... 7.Museo Manuela Sáenz Manuela Sáenz fought not only in the drawing rooms of Quito, but also on the battlefield. She is a figure of utmost importance in the country’s struggle for independence. The museum that was established in her honor has 11 rooms, where paintings, books, and personal objects belonging to her, as well as to Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre, are on display. There are also paintings by European artists, religious statues from the 16th and 17th centuries, Chinese and African marbles from the 15th century, and a collection of priceless Christ figures by various artists, including the great master Caspicara of the School of Quito. more information... 8.Iglesia San Agustín Behind its heavy wooden doors framed by a beautiful entranceway carved in stone, the Church of St. Augustine is noteworthy for its impressive 16th century interior. Every inch of the courtyard’s walls is covered in delicate gilded decorations and oil paintings by the artist Miguel de Santiago depicting the life and work of St. Augustine hang on the walls. It was here in the “Sala Capitular” (Chapter Room) that the Declaration of Independence was signed. The remains of the heroes of Independence have been laid to rest here. more information... 9.Convento de El Carmen Bajo The Convent of El Carmen Bajo, which was originally founded in 1669 in Latacunga (city located about two hours to the south of Quito), was destroyed by a violent earthquake in 1698 but was completely rebuilt in Quito. This is where the nuns of the Carmelite Order live a life of contemplation. Inside you can admire the beautiful church, the rooms of the monastery and its orange-tree garden. Marchioness Mariana Carcelén placed the mortal remains of her husband, Grand Marshal Antonio José de Sucre, in the crypt of this church. They were subsequently transferred to the Cathedral.” more information... 10.Centro de Arte Contemporáneo In August 2007, the “The Quito Revolution” exhibition was opened in the building of the former Military Hospital, which is now the Bicentennial Contemporary Art Center. There are five showrooms for the main part of the exhibition entitled “The Quito Revolution,” while the other exhibitions are in adjacent rooms: “Uprising in the Americas,” “Walls and Streets,” and “Our History: Learn by Playing.” Next to the building, there are additional exhibitions dealing with other aspects, incidents, and figures that were important for the country’s history at that time. more information... 11.Museo Templo de la Patria On May 24, 1822, the decisive battle that put an end to colonial rule in the territory of Quito was fought on the slopes of Mount Pichincha. In 1920, President José Luis Tamayo erected an obelisk commemorating the Battle of Pichincha and to pay tribute to the soldiers and prominent figures, such as Antonio José de Sucre and Simón Bolívar, who were involved in liberating Ecuador and the Americas. This site is now known as the “Cima de la Libertad” (Freedom Summit) and it now holds the Museo Templo de la Patria (Homeland Museum and Temple), where there are various murals depicting the events and figures that were crucial for securing freedom in the Americas.more information... |
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