20°C 
Municipal Cathedral
Rating: 
The gleaming white walls and terracotta tiled roof of the Cathedral of Quito, the sacred heart of the historical centre, dominate the southern side of the Plaza Grande. A classically orthodox-styled building, the seat of the Archbishop, the Cathedral was constructed between 1562 and 1567, and is regarded as the oldest cathedral in South America. Its walls, cupolas and decoration have witnessed all the important events in the capital, as well as the divine powers of heaven.
A resting place for past rulers, and a shrine to the forgotten heroes of independence, the Cathedral is full of secret histories and fabled tales. The engraved plaques lining the outer walls honour the forefathers of independence. The most celebrated figure in the city’s independence, Antonio José de Sucre (a Venezuelan), is laid to rest in the Mausoleum Chapel, a small private chapel within the cathedral. The small altar of Our Lady of Sorrows, holds a commemorative plaque marking the spot where President Gabriel García Moreno died on August 6, 1875. Today, the cathedral of Quito’s walls listen to a people free and righteous, its railings touched by noble and commoner alike – all equal in the eyes of God.
Within this sacred centre of worship, its elaborately-decorated walls are adorned with fine examples of works from the acclaimed Quito School of Art. Caspicara’s ‘The Descent of Christ from the Cross,’ a masterpiece of expressionism, dominates the main altar, while Manuel de Samaniego’s painted virgin takes centre stage, bordered by a mural by Bernardo Rodriguez.
The Cathedral is an intriguing fusion of forms: gothic arches lead to a Moorish ceiling, whilst the neoclassical choir is adorned by an Episcopal chair surrounded by Caspicara’s colonial statues, and the three naves hemming the main altar are distinctly Baroque. Amongst this bazaar of styles, one also encounters the simple: a story of life in the priesthood in the 17th century, choral books, silver trinkets left by the faithful and priests’ tunics worn by the ages.
A resting place for past rulers, and a shrine to the forgotten heroes of independence, the Cathedral is full of secret histories and fabled tales. The engraved plaques lining the outer walls honour the forefathers of independence. The most celebrated figure in the city’s independence, Antonio José de Sucre (a Venezuelan), is laid to rest in the Mausoleum Chapel, a small private chapel within the cathedral. The small altar of Our Lady of Sorrows, holds a commemorative plaque marking the spot where President Gabriel García Moreno died on August 6, 1875. Today, the cathedral of Quito’s walls listen to a people free and righteous, its railings touched by noble and commoner alike – all equal in the eyes of God.
Within this sacred centre of worship, its elaborately-decorated walls are adorned with fine examples of works from the acclaimed Quito School of Art. Caspicara’s ‘The Descent of Christ from the Cross,’ a masterpiece of expressionism, dominates the main altar, while Manuel de Samaniego’s painted virgin takes centre stage, bordered by a mural by Bernardo Rodriguez.
The Cathedral is an intriguing fusion of forms: gothic arches lead to a Moorish ceiling, whilst the neoclassical choir is adorned by an Episcopal chair surrounded by Caspicara’s colonial statues, and the three naves hemming the main altar are distinctly Baroque. Amongst this bazaar of styles, one also encounters the simple: a story of life in the priesthood in the 17th century, choral books, silver trinkets left by the faithful and priests’ tunics worn by the ages.
Useful Information
Hours: monday to friday from 09h30 to 16h00, saturday from 10h00 to 16h00
Address: Venezuela N3-117 y Espejo
Phone Number: (593 2) 2570 371
E-mail: catedral@interactive.net.ec
Web Site:
Prices: 1.50USD adultos, 1USD estudiantes, tercera edad y niños
