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San Sebastian, La Recoleta, La Inmaculada Quito Churches - Thursday, April 3, 2008
San SebastiánConstructedinside Quito's colonial downtown, in 1570, it belongs to the first parish in Quito. It was designated to Indian people, because in this place had existed the entrance to the Royal Way to the Inca city.
It has a simple but beautiful entrance door with a strong tower. It is part of a joined of a new church constructed in 1925, with a big square and its atrium. There are art pieces such as the sculpture of San Sebastián from the 17th century, which was brought from Spain. It is one of the most important sculpture of the nation. There is also a retable form the 17th century, treasure from the baroque in Quito.
El Buen Pastor o de la Recoleta
This church began its construction inside Quito's colonial downtown, at the beginning of the 17th century thanks to the Dominican community. The constructor was Fray Pedro Bedon. The church received the name of Recoleta de Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia, in the 17th century, under GarcÃa Morenoâ??s power. Then it was under the responsibility of the Buen Pastor congregation.
La Recoleta de la Peña de Francia was the monastery of recollection of the Dominican. The church was famous for its deeply spiritual life. This was the example for the Quito. So it was how other recoletas were built outside the Quito in order to find a quiet place for the monks.
This church has a simple outdoor with two towers, pilasters and an octagonal rosette over the principal door. Inside it has the form of a dome, with a single nave and a dome in the major altar. It also has rich paintings of important artists, and a two floored decorated cloister.
La Inmaculada
This religious ensemble was constructed inside Quito's colonial downtown, in the 19th century (1872-1874). It is in a small mountain from which it is easy to watch Quito. The outdoor style is Neo-Gothic and ends in a tower. It has a dome and agivals archs, three gardens with cloisters supported by bricks columns and lower arch, evidence of an interesting mix between stone floors and wood floors.
Chimbacalle
This church was buil inside Quito's colonial downtown, at a side of the trainâ??s station. It replaces the church constructed for the Main train station. It is from 1912 and has a single deck. It is characterized by its austere front door, with symmetry. There is a bell tower which you can access through a semicircular stone stair.
Tejar
This church was constructed inside Quito's colonial downtown in the 18th century (1754) century by Francisco de Jesús Bolaños, who sponsored the elaboration of a copy of the traveling of Quito, La Virgen de las Mercedes, and went with their brother of the Community of la Merced in their way to recollect charities in order to begin the construction of the church.
It has a single nave. Its front door has a manierist style, with two modern towers with bells. The ensemble is conformed by this church, the monastery and two cloisters. In the back they have one of the oldest cementeries in Quito.
Inside the church we can find canvases from the life of San Pedro but also El Cristo de la Crucifixion by Miguel de Santiago.
- Created:
- Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 8:46 AM