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La Concepción, San Agustín, El Carmen Bajo - Friday, September 7, 2007
La ConcepcionIt was the first none monastery founded in 1577 in Quito, under the sponsor from the Franciscan order, in order to pick up women who were alone or abandoned. The construction began after the donation made by the Council from the Quito Audiencia: they donated a square for the construction of the Concepcion.
The church has got only one deck. Its portrait is made on stone. Its walls are moderate and simple. It counts with some sculpture details and important mudejar and plateresque retable. We can find here the image of the Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion, made in wood by Francisco de Castilli. There are also art pieces from important artists such as Legarda and Caspicara.
Times ago, nones would go to religious ceremonies, staying in the high and low choirs’ place, which were protected with grilles. Nowadays the nones made some products such as crèmes and wine. They sell them.
San Agustín
In was constructed with the planes designed by Francisco Becerra in the XVI century. It was finished in the XVII century, by the Father Basilio de Rivera. Because of lots of earthquakes it has been modified.
The front door and the tower, which is the robustest one, are very important. Its harmonic construction shows gothic, renaissance and mannerists elements. Its front door is elegant and temperate, decorated with a mudejar style. Its cloister and its artesonar are amazingly rich and beautiful. A good example is the Capitulary Room (Sala Capitular). This room is one of the greatest attractions because there are many art pieces, which value is big and these are very important because of its historical riches; it was the Magna Room from the University de San Fulgencio, one of the first superior education centres in Quito. This is also the place where de certificate of Independence was singed the 10th august 1809.
This Quito's church has got many paintings from the great colonialist painter Miguel de Santiago. His rests are in the undergrounds church.
El Carmen Bajo
It is also known as the Modern Carmen. Its construction began in 1704 and finished in 1745. The head of the project was the Bishop Andres Paredes de Armendáris. It was made in order to make room for the Carmelitas de Latacunga, who had to go out of their city because of earthquakes in 1698.
Its ensemble is formed with two principal yards, one vegetable garden and one important temple with a stoned front door. Inside the church the retable of Bernardo de Legarda is really prominent and distinguishes. But it is also the Nacimiento de Belen. The monastery has the major porcelain sample from Quito, from 1770
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- Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 5:02 PM