 Quito, Ecuador cover page. |
 Map of Ecuador with the star indicating Quito. |
 Plaza de la Independencia, or Plaza Grande, in Quito is flanked by the Presidential Palace where the president of Ecuador lives. |
 The Presidential Palace was rebuilt in the 19th century (the original was installed in 1612). |
 View of the large Inca stone blocks, which were used at the base of the Presidential Palace. |
 The Plaza Grande Hotel overlooking Plaza de la Independencia in Quito. It was Quito's first 5-star hotel. |
 Pedestrians sitting on park benches in Plaza Grande with Metropolitan Cathedral in the background. |
 The fountain with pedestrians passing time in Plaza de la Independencia. |
 View of Plaza Grande with the liberty monument in the background. |
 This bronze and marble liberty monument was installed in 1908. It represents Ecuador's independence from Spain. |
 This is one of 3 statues of liberty in the world, the other two being in New York and Mexico City. |
 Below the statue is a sculpture of a lion wounded by an arrow. A condor with unfolded wings carries broken chains in its claws. |
 The lion represents the conflict between the Spanish and the Ecuadorian people. |
 Façade of the awe-inspiring Metropolitan Cathedral. Work began on it between 1550 and 1560. |
 Close-up of the steeple. The cathedral is known for its numerous architectural styles that blend so well together. |
 Side view of the steeple of Metropolitan Cathedral from Garcia Moreno Street in Quito. |
 View of the arched colonnade of the Archbishop's Palace in Plaza de la Independencia. |
 You can get a shoeshine at the Archbishop's Palace before exploring its myriad of its shops, galleries and restaurants. |
 Façade of Cultural Centre of Quito, which is dedicated to colonial art and history. |
 Interior of the Church of El Sagrario in Quito with its golden carved alter in the background. |
 Domed skylight in the Church of El Sagrario with light shining in. The gold used in this church symbolizes the sun. |
 Close-up of the domed skylight. |
 One side of the golden carved door in the Church of El Sagrario is Spanish and the other side of it is Indian. |
 Façade of La Compañía de Jesús Church. It is one of the Baroque masterpieces of South America. Note the Solomonic columns. |
 The Solomonic columns are symbolic of the Catholic doctrine of life's journey, which starts at the bottom and ends in heaven. |
 Interior of La Compañía Church (these interior photos were scanned from postcards since photos were forbidden). |
 Ceiling depicted with Inca sun symbol. The Spanish thought more people would attend because of the indigenous symbols. |
 Natural sunlight from the transepts dome gives an angelic brilliance to La Compañía de Jesús Church. |
 Façade of the Central Bank of Ecuador, which is now a museum where they keep the currency. |
 View of San Francisco Plaza with San Francisco Church in the background (the most imposing of Quito's architectural monuments). |
 The interior of the church is being restored because the ceiling fell down (in 2007) due to an earthquake. |
 Fountain with pigeons in front of the San Francisco Church. |
 View of San Francisco Plaza from San Francisco Church. |
 The Church rises above the stone paved plaza, creating a noble effect that Ernesto La Orden called the "Escorial of the Andes". |
 View from San Francisco Plaza looking up at El Panecillo (the Virgin of Quito monument). |
 View of El Panecillo with a telephoto lens. It is on a hill 3,000 meters above Quito. |
 Close-up of El Panecillo. The Spanish artist Agustín of the Herrán Matorras made this aluminum monument in 1976. |
 A rainy night photo of Plaza Grande with the Presidential Palace and the Metropolitan Cathedral steeple in the background. |
 Close-up at night of the Metropolitan Cathedral steeple. |
 The Plaza Grande Hotel with evening lights shining off of the wet pavement. |
 The Presidential Palace seen at night from Plaza de la Independencia. |
 Side view of the arched colonnade of the Archbishop's Palace at night. |
 Evening lights reflecting from the Archbishop's Palace. |
 Night view of the façade of Metropolitan Cathedral. |
 Façade of Metropolitan Cathedral with a fountain illuminated the foreground. |