Quito Colonial

DISCOVER OUR CITY

Quito Colonial is full of treasures ready to be discovered. As declared in 1978 by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Centre, Quito proudly possesses one of the most extensive and best-preserved historic centers of Spanish America. Below are some of our recommended highlights only a short walk distance from Casa LunaLoma:

Plaza de Iglesia de Santo DomingO

Location: Flores Street, between Bolívar & Rocafuerte | 6 Min Walk

Santo Domingo church and monastery were built by Dominicans since 1580 and culminated in the early seventeenth century. They represent one of the most important religious structures in Quito.

This building houses Museo Fray Pedro Bedón showcasing extraordinary examples of paintings and sculptures representative of the “Escuela Quiteña de Arte” (Quito's Classic School of Art). A must visit.

Calle "La Ronda"

Location: From Rocafuerte Street and Joaquin Paredes, descend south into "La Ronda" | 7 Min Walk

Calle "La Ronda" is a highly historical, vivid and legendary street where Ecuador’s most famous poets used to gather to share their views on life, love, politics, and religion. Now a pedestrian-only street, it's a great place to get a true sense of Quito's vibrancy filled with little bars, coffee shops, galleries, and handicraft stores. Best time to visit is after sunset on any day from Thursday to Sunday and walk up and down the street until nightfall. You will hear the live traditional music coming out from its many bars, restaurants, and taverns.

Plaza GRANDE

Location: García Moreno entre Chile y Espejo | 12 Min Walk

Plaza de la Independencia, also known as Plaza Grande, is where Quito’s daily life and historic and national symbolism collide. This Plaza is an icon of the city, as it holds the monument celebrating the Quito's independence from the Spanish. This plaza has many landmarks to explore:

The Palacio de Carondelet is the official residence of the president of Ecuador. On Monday at exactly 11 A.M, you can watch the change of guards.
The Catedral Metropolitana is the highest-ranking Catholic building in the city. Built in the 16th century, the cathedral stands apart from the rest of churches in Quito’s Old Town
The Palacio Arzobispal - the former bishop’s palace standing face-to-face with the cathedral, it is no longer a religious heritage but the home to traditional food courts and artisan shops.

Plaza SAN FRANCISCO

Location: Calle Benalcazar y Bolivar | 12 Min Walk

Cobbled stoned Plaza de San Francisco is one of the oldest and most beautiful sights and a symbol of the magnificence of Quito’s Old Town. Build by Franciscan missionaries, it is considered the birthplace of Catholicism in Quito. It took almost 150 years to build, from 1534 to 1680, at over eight acres, it is the most expansive religious complex of its kind in the Americas. For a long time, the Plaza was a location where many native people would come to engage in trade. Today you can take a seat at one of the cafés located here and watch the many tourists and Quiteno people strolling along as they get on with their business. The Plaza is said to have been built over an Incan temple.