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Church · Quito, Pichincha
Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
Quito's first major religious complex, begun in 1537, with the stone plaza, the Baroque church, cloisters and the Fray Pedro Gocial colonial art museum.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
The San Francisco complex began to be built by the Franciscans in 1537, three years after the founding of Quito, and is one of the city's largest colonial complexes, with a church, chapels, cloisters and gardens. The Plaza de San Francisco, paved with stone and almost treeless, opens in front, with the staircase that leads up to the two-towered Mannerist façade.
The church interior is Baroque, with gilded altarpieces, a ceiling influenced by Moorish design and sculptures of the Escuela Quitenha, such as the winged Virgin of Quito by Bernardo de Legarda, which inspired the statue on El Panecillo. The Chapel of Cantuña, next to it, preserves a popular legend about an indigenous man who supposedly made a pact with the devil to finish the atrium on time.
The Museo Fray Pedro Gocial occupies part of the convent, with colonial paintings and sculptures, and the visit passes through the cloisters with arches, the high choir and the view of the plaza. The plaza is a meeting point for locals and has cafés and shops around it.
The San Francisco metro station is beneath the plaza.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 to 1.5 hours, including the museum.
Best time
In the morning, when the façade is lit and the plaza is busy. Confirm the museum opening hours before you go.
How to get there
At the Plaza de San Francisco, two blocks from the Plaza Grande. The San Francisco metro station is in the plaza itself.
Tip
Visit the museum and climb to the high choir to see the nave from above. Ask to hear the legend of Cantuña in the adjacent chapel.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
When was San Francisco built?
Starting in 1537, shortly after the founding of Quito, with work continuing into the 17th century.
What is the legend of Cantuña?
According to tradition, the indigenous man Cantuña made a pact with the devil to finish the church atrium and tricked him by hiding a stone, leaving the work incomplete.
Does the metro reach the center?
Yes, San Francisco station is beneath the square.