I've collected some of the story behind my photo of the Quito Basilica. This stained glass window resides in an alcove of the Basilica Del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador. The name refers to a religious vow the nation took to the sacred heart of Jesus. It's a spectacular rock masonry masterpiece capped by steep spire towers. This image was taken in a smaller, secondary alter. I tried to capture the mood created by the colored glass and candles in this space. Due to low light levels inside the cavernous cathedral this was one of only a few images I was able to capture. We first saw this cathedral in passing by taxi to the central part of the old city. Later we trekked back about two miles over steep hills, along narrow streets and finally circled around two blocks to reach the entry to this wonderful work of architecture.

I asked my friend and colleague, Eudoro Benalcazar, an architect who was born, raised and educated in Ecuador to tell me the history of this Cathedral. This is what he told me:

The Basilica is one of the most important examples of Ecuadorian Neo-Gothic architecture. It is located in the central, "Old Town" sector of the city, near the streets of Carchi and Venezuela, next to the Convent of the Oblatos parents.

This religious temple was built to recall the consecration of the Ecuadorian state to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated during the presidency of Gabriel Brown Garci'a in 1873. It is 115 meters high and is formed with 24 internal chapels surrounding the main hall that represent the provinces of the country. This sanctuary was inaugurated and blessed by the Pope Juan Pablo II during his visit to Ecuador on the 18th of January, 1985.

The Basilica, by its structure and style, is comparable with two other great cathedrals worldwide: the Basilica de San Patricio (Saint Patrick's Cathedral), located in New York and the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. A detail that distinguishes this cathedral is the substitution of classic gargoyles with sculptures of reptiles and amphibians representing the fauna of our country. In addition, stony rosettes are arranged that represent the flora of Ecuador. Inside the highest point of the main tower is an observation deck where visitors can view the surrounding city and mountains. The central ship, or nave of the temple is 140 meters in length and 35 meters wide. The doors are emblazoned with 14 bronze relief images which depict 11 apostles and 3 evangelists.

Throughout the history of the construction, which lasted over 100 years, there were many contributions so that this work could be carried out. The Oblatos parents donated the land where the Basilica was built. In order to continue with the construction donations were made by worshipers and believers, who provided stones in exchange for recording their names on them. In 1895 the State implanted a tax on the purchase of salt in order to continue the construction. The people of Ecuador managed to finish the construction through the efforts of several generations of pedreros and goad (rock smiths and chiselers) who dedicated their lives to building each wall of the enclosure.

One of the attributes of the Basilica of National Voto is that it is the pantheon of the Chiefs of State of Ecuador (a mausoleum for the country's presidents).