Old Town

Discover the dazzling churches, monasteries, museums, palaces and plazas that decorate the atmospheric streets of Quito’s UNESCO-listed historic center.

Quito Old Town (Centro Histórico) is an architectural masterpiece and the colonial heart of Quito. Visit its dozens of grandiose churches, convents and palaces, many looming over pretty public squares. Find galleries and museums showcasing everything from city history to pre-Columbian art and waxworks. Quito Old Town stands little changed since its 16th-century beginnings despite the city’s several earthquakes.

Experience the lively activity of the district’s three main squares: Independence Square, Santo Domingo Square and San Francisco Plaza. Colonial treasures, such as the Carondelet Palace,Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito and El Sagrario Chapel frame Independence Square. Appreciate the grandeur from the comfort of one of the plaza’s benches. Watch as clowns, magicians and musicians entertain locals and tourists.

Marvel at the whitewashed arcades, Moorish-style tower and artwork by Manuel de Samaniego at La Merced Church. Visit its 13 cloisters and see some of the 3,500 works of art at the Church and Convent of San Francisco. Enjoy magnificent views over the city’s rooftops from the 377-foot (115-meter) tall towers of the neo-Gothic Basílica of the National Vow.

Go to the City Museumto learn about the evolution of Quito from prehistoric times to Ecuador’s declaration of independence. Admire waxwork exhibits retelling Quito’s colonial past at the Alberto Mena Caamaño Museum. Browse superb art collections at the Camilo Egas Museum, Colonial Art Museumand House of Praise Pre-Columbian Art Museum. Retrace the life of a well-known aristocrat at María Augusta Urrutia House.

Walk along Calle La Ronda, an atmospheric street filled with chocolatiers, handicraft shops, milliners and silversmiths. Sip a canelazo (a hot spiced fruit and aguardiente drink) at a cozy bar or café. Attend concerts, operas and plays at Teatro Sucre, on Plaza Teatro.

Travel between the attractions of Quito Old Town comfortably on foot. Public buses connect with the city’s outlying suburbs. Guesthouses and hotels line the district’s streets. Take a taxi to El Panecillolookout and Itchimbía Park for panoramic city and mountain views.