Monument to Independence, Independence monument in Plaza Grande, Quito, Ecuador

The Monument to Independence stands in Plaza Grande and rises approximately 17.4 meters tall with a female figure crowning its top. The stone base is surrounded by architectural details that frame the historic square.

Quito declared autonomy from Spanish rule in 1809, which eventually led to the construction of this monument honoring that moment. The structure was inaugurated in 1906 as a lasting tribute to the city's independence movement.

The crowning figure is Libertas, the Roman goddess of personal freedom, shown as a warrior to convey that freedom is won by arms. In her left hand she holds a bundle of rods bound around an axe, the Roman fasces, a symbol of a consul's authority to punish and execute; in the republican era it stood for strength in unity. She rests on a sphere marked with an equinoctial line, placing Ecuador at the centre of the world.

The location is easy to reach on foot and surrounded by important government buildings, making it a natural gathering point. The area is well-lit and typically busy during the day, so plan your visit accordingly.

The eight spheres around the base are stone, not marble, and the chains linking them are iron. The column faces northeast, so the summit catches the first sunlight rising behind the hill of Itchimbía.