Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito

Brief Information

The main entrance of Quito Cathedral does not face Independence Square, although the cathedral itself stands on its southwestern side. This peculiarity did not arise from an architect’s whim: during construction, a deep ravine ran nearby, and the building could not be expanded toward the southwest. As a result, the cathedral turned its flank toward the square, and it was this side facade that influenced the size and shape of the city square.

The cathedral grew out of an early church plot allocated shortly after the founding of Quito and is considered the oldest Catholic church in Ecuador. Later, its connection with the square was strengthened by the Carondelet Arch and a semicircular staircase. Thus the place reads not only as a church, but also as a building that adapted the ceremonial urban center to difficult terrain.

What to Notice First

You can compare the cathedral’s two lines: the entrances and the side facing the square. The main entrance is not where Spanish urban tradition would lead one to expect it, but the Carondelet Arch acts as a prominent link between the church and the square. Beside it, a stone parapet stretches along the building; spheres, pyramids, and other decorations turn the forced side facade into the square’s ceremonial boundary.

It is worth noticing how the exterior silhouette continues the interior arrangement. The white volume is complemented by a tall bell tower shifted to the right of the main entrance, while three green ceramic domes rise above the key sections. Inside, the same principle is visible in the three longitudinal naves: slightly pointed arches stand on square pillars, the central nave is finished with cedar panels, and the carved coffered ceiling with a golden frieze shows a combination of Gothic and Mudéjar features.