Quito City Tour.

Duration: 3 hours.
Height: 2800 m.
Average temperature: +20C during the day, +10C at night.

During the Quito City Tour, you will see fascinating panoramas, churches, domes and roofs that are historical relics, and learn about colonial art, architecture, culture, legends and traditions.
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of the Inca city and is located at an altitude of 2800 m. Despite the earthquake of 1917, the city has the best preserved and least modified historical centre in Latin America. The architecture and rich interiors are examples of the Art School of Quito, which is a mix of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and Indigenous arts. The artists of this school worked on stone and wood to give form to the most important religious events. After an hour and a half walking tour exploring the Old Town, you will understand why Quito was the first city in the world to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Quito takes its name from the Kitus tribe that inhabited the region long before the Spanish conquest. In 1533, Sebastian de Benalcazar took possession of the city, which was at first the capital of the Inca Empire, and in 1541 it was elevated to the title of a Spanish city. Its full name is San Francisco de Quito. The city was the capital of the state of Quito until the end of the Spanish colonial rule.
The Franciscan order was the first of the orders to be established in Quito. The Franciscans immediately began building the monastery, which became a centre of education and art, and has its own schools of painting and sculpture (the Church of San Francisco is visited during the tour).

Around the main square, Plaza Grande, there are the main buildings of the country and the capital: the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace and the City Hall. We will visit the best example of colonial art in the city, the Jesuit temple, the facade of which is covered with intricate carvings.

Quito is a metropolitan city and has many contrasts, you can appreciate this by visiting the old city and new areas.
You will have a beautiful view of the whole city from the Panecillo Hill and observation deck with a statue of the Virgin Mary with wings, the patroness of the city.

Transfer back to your hotel.