Basilica del Voto Nacional

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Venezuela Y Carchi, Quito Canton02-2289428

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Mosaic in the basilica Photo - Basilica del Voto Nacional, Quito, Ecuador

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Gargoyles with a difference

by catsholiday

ashbourne, United Kingdom

June 30, 2013

Best of IgoUgo Basílica del Voto Nacional, Quito We spent a morning in the old town of Quito and this building was the first we visited.It has a rather strange name as the translation is ,' the Basilica of the National Vow' but it is also known as the Catedral ...Read more Basílica del Voto Nacional, Quito

We spent a morning in the old town of Quito and this building was the first we visited.It has a rather strange name as the translation is ,' the Basilica of the National Vow' but it is also known as the Catedral Consagración de Jesús or the Basílica de San Juan. Whatever you chose to call it this building is the Roman catholic church or cathedral central to Quito.

This is a beautiful neo Gothic looking building. In fact it is the largest neogothic basilica in the New World. It is really beautiful and reminded me rather of the Notre Dame in Paris from the outside.

Although it looks really old it is in fact not that old. Construction was started in back in the late 1800s but it was not actually built until the years 1892 and 1909 and at this time the church was called the Heart of Mary Cathedral. I am not quite sure why but the basilica as it is today was not blessed until Pope John Paul II came in1985, and then it was consecrated and inaugurated on July 12, 1988.

Outside it is a classic sort of Gothic style cathedral - looking building with spires and towers and stone carvings. It is very beautiful, very ornate and I was strangely rather impressed that this sort of skill still existed in the last century really which sounds a bit silly but many craft skills seem to be lost that were so much a part of life way back.

The thing that we found most unusual was the fact that the gargoyles are all South American animals. They chose animals that represented the different parts of Ecuador, the jungle, the mountains and the coast. We saw an armadillo, crocodile, tortoise, sloth and iguana to name but a few that I recall.

Inside once again is impressive with high arched ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows. There were two most impressive rose windows in the sort of centre of the cross shaped building.

There were the usual catholic decorations, icons and a fair amount of gold and glitz especially in the older chapel.The older part of the building is not open to tourists , certainly not those visiting without paying the fee. We looked through the doorway and took a photo through there but you could not use flash anywhere in the building and certainly didn't want to be caught using a flash there. It was pure bling in the way that only Catholic churches can do it. Gold everywhere and icons painted in purples, reds and golds. The first impression was wow! I have walked into Aladdin’s cave there was so much gold.

To visit the main basilica is free any time from 9.30 am till 5.30 pm, however there are fees charged for entering some parts of this huge building. There is plenty to see for free with twenty four chapels and you could spend hours in the building looking at the religious artwork .It costs $2 to climb the bell tower; the bell tolls on the hour and is quite loud so if you are up the tower at the time then be aware. We were not offered the chance to go up the tower but if you do get the chance the view is pretty spectacular apparently.

There is a cafe on the third floor of the tower in this huge building where you can have drinks and snacks but I can't say what it is like as we didn't stop there.

Be aware of if you are visiting without a guide that there are a number of unofficial 'guides' who hang around offering to show you around for a fee. You don't need to pay to go into the main building unless you want to climb the tower. How expert these guides are I don't know but you do NOT need to have one to go into the main part of the church, it is free. Close

From journal A few days in and around Quito

Basilica del Voto Nacional

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Gargoyles with a difference