Showing 1-15 of 15 results
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Capilla del Hombre
Guayasamín's Chapel Of Man is one of the most important works of art in South America. This giant monument is a tribute to humankind, to the suffering of Latin America's indigenous poor, and to the undying hope for something better. Broken into 'three' both architecturally and thematically, it mirrors the Inca's reverence for the number. The museum exhibits adhere to the precolonial, colonial and contemporary themes of Guayasamín's career.
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Centro Cultural Metropolitano
Just off Plaza Grande, the outstanding Centro Cultural Metropolitano was the first restoration work undertaken in the old town. Opened in 2000, it fast became an island of cultural activity and the impetus behind the old town's renovation. It houses several temporary art exhibits and hosts excellent art shows on the main interior patio. Along with two more interior patios and two beautiful rooftop terraces (all worth seeing), it houses an auditorium, a library and a pleasant café.
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Museo Amazónico
Above Abya Yala bookstore the Museo Amazónico is run by the Salesian Mission and houses an impressive display of indigenous artifacts collected by the missionaries in the Oriente. It's not huge, but it's an interesting exhibit, especially if you plan to head to the jungle.
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Museo Camilo Egas
Several blocks east of Plaza Grande, inside a beautifully restored colonial home, the Museo Camilo Egas houses a small but excellent exhibit of painter Camilo Egas' work. Egas was Ecuador's first indigenista (indigenous movement) painter, and his paintings of indigenous people - idealistic as they are - are stunning.
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Museo de Arte Colonial
One block to the northeast of Plaza Grande is the excellent Museo de Arte Colonial . In a restored 17th-century building, the museum houses what many consider to be Ecuador's best collection of colonial art. It's surely the best place to see the famous sculptures and paintings of the Quito School, including the works of Miguel de Santiago, Manuel Chili (the indigenous artist known as Caspicara) and Bernardo de Legarda.
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Museo de Ciencias Naturales
To acquaint yourself with Ecuador's flora and fauna, head to the country's best natural-history museum, the Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Contemplating the thousands of dead insects and arachnids on display is a good way to rile your nerves before a trip to the Oriente. It's next to the Jardín Botánico.
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Museo de Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño
The Museo de Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño houses an interesting private archaeology collection and an exhibit of colonial art featuring some of the masters of the Quito School. This museum is on the 3rd floor of the library in the Universidad Católica, across the traffic circle from the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. Admission includes a guided tour (in English if you call in advance).
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Museo de la Ciudad
The 18th-century Arco de la Reina (García Moreno at Rocafuerte), a massive arch built in the 18th century to give shelter to churchgoers, spans García Moreno. On one side, the Museo de la Ciudad occupies the beautifully restored San Juan de Dios hospital. Built in 1563, it functioned as a hospital until 1973. The museum depicts daily life in Quito through the centuries with displays including dioramas, model indigenous homes and colonial kitchens. ists.
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Museo de San Agustín
In the convent of the Monastery of San Agustín, the Museo de San Agustín houses many canvases of the Quito School, including a series depicting the life of Saint Augustine, painted by Miguel de Santiago.
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Museo del Banco Central
Across from Parque El Ejido, the circular, glass-plated landmark-building Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana houses a movie theater, an auditorium and one of the country's most important museums, the Museo del Banco Central. The museum showcases the country's largest collection of Ecuadorian art, from beautifully displayed pre-Hispanic and colonial religious art to 20th-century paintings and sculpture.
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Museo Franciscano
To the right of the main entrance the Monastery of San Francisco is the Museo Franciscano, which contains some of the church's finest artwork, including paintings, sculpture and furniture dating to the 16th century. Some of the furniture is fantastically wrought and inlaid with thousands of pieces of mother-of-pearl. The admission fee includes a guided tour, available in English or Spanish.
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Museo Guayasamín
In the former home of world-famous painter Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-99), this wonderful museum houses the most complete collection of his work. Guayasamín was also an avid collector, and the museum displays his outstanding collection of more than 4500 pre-Colombian ceramic, bone and metal pieces from throughout Ecuador.
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Museo Mindalae: Museo Etnohistorico de Artesanias del Ecuador
Just north of the Mariscal, the Museo Mindalae exhibits the artwork, clothing and utensils of Ecuador's indigenous people with special emphasis on the peoples of the Oriente. Run by the outstanding Fundación Sinchi Sacha.
Read more about Museo Mindalae: Museo Etnohistorico de Artesanias del Ecuador
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Parque La Carolina
North of the Mariscal lies the giant Parque La Carolina. On weekends it fills with families who come to pedal paddleboats, play soccer and ride bikes. In 2005, Quito inaugurated a new addition: the Jardín Botánico. With more than 300 Ecuadorian plants and tree species and an outstanding orquideario (orchid greenhouse), it's well worth a look. The Museo de Ciencias Naturales, the country's best natural history museum, is next door.
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Quito Observatory
The Quito Observatory stands in the center of Parque La Alameda, just by the statues of members of the 1736-44 French Académie des Sciences expedition that surveyed Ecuador. Opened by President García Moreno in 1864, it's the oldest observatory on the continent. On very clear nights the observatory opens for stargazing; call ahead to confirm if the weather looks promising.
Showing 1-15 of 15 results
