The clock towers
Views over Quito.
Michael Shade — CC0 · CC0 · Maros M r a z (Maros) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Martin St-Amant (S23678) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Maros M r a z (Maros) — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Basílica del Voto Nacional, the Basilica of the National Vow, is a large neo-Gothic church in the historic centre of Quito, Ecuador's capital. It rises to about 83 metres, less than a kilometre from the city centre in a straight line, and its towers can be seen from much of the old town. The idea was proposed in 1883, the first stone was laid in 1892, and the architect Emilio Tarlier took inspiration from Bourges Cathedral in France. Part of the money came from donors who had their names engraved on stones, and the basilica was inaugurated in 1988. A local story holds that it is still technically unfinished. The front has two ornate clock towers and pointed windows, and instead of the usual mythical beasts its stone gargoyles take the shape of Ecuadorian animals such as tortoises and iguanas. For a small fee visitors can climb the towers by narrow walkways and ladders to a platform overlooking Quito and the surrounding mountains. The upper sections are steep and exposed, so they are not for anyone uneasy with heights. Mornings are best, before the midday clouds roll in.
Views over Quito.
Pointed windows and carving.
Stone tortoises and iguanas.
Calle Venezuela, Historic Centre, Quito, Ecuador
Sucre National TheatreThe Sucre National Theatre is one of the oldest opera houses in South America an6 minutes walk
Historic Centre and Plaza GrandeOne of Latin America's best-preserved colonial centres, and with Kraków one of t9 minutes walk4.7
La Ronda StreetOne of Quito's oldest and loveliest streets, a narrow, curving cobbled lane in t16 minutes walk4.4
Itchimbía Park and the Crystal PalaceA broad park on Itchimbía hill east of old Quito, about 2,910 metres up, which u16 minutes walk4.5Yes, for a small fee.
Steep and exposed near the top.