Historic Center of Quito

The Historic Center is a large colonial district with buildings spanning several hundred blocks, featuring churches, monasteries, plazas, and museums throughout. The structures stand close together with stone and plaster facades, connected by narrow streets that weave between larger open squares.

Spanish colonizers built this urban center in the 16th century directly over an Inca settlement, creating a new administrative capital. UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage site in 1978, recognizing it as one of the oldest preserved colonial districts in South America.

The Baroque school that developed here blends European and indigenous artistic elements in religious buildings, particularly visible in the gold-decorated interiors of the many churches throughout the area. You can see this fusion in hand-carved altars, painted ceilings, and decorative details created by local craftspeople.

You can explore the district on foot by following the main pathways connecting the major plazas and visiting the churches and museums along the way. The terrain can be steep and walking-intensive, so sturdy shoes and patience navigating narrow, winding streets are helpful.

The Presidential Palace opens its rooms to visitors, allowing you to walk through hallways where Ecuador's leaders conduct daily state business. The building displays a mix of colonial architecture and modern government spaces, offering a rare look behind the scenes of an active administrative center.