Plaza de San Francisco, Quito

The Plaza de San Francisco (“Saint Francis Square”) is a major public square in the Historic Center of Quito, Ecuador, upon which faces La Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco (the Church and Convent of St. Francis) from which it takes its name.

History

The Plaza is built upon ancient Incan ruins, including Emperor Atahualpa’s (1497-1533) palace.

Creation

{ su construcción inició en 1537, finalizó en 1680 y se inauguró en 1705.}

16th to 19th centuries

Modern period

Buildings

Building fronting on the Plaza de San Francisco include (in counterclockwise direction), the main façade of the Church and Convent of St. Francis, the Chapel of Villacís, the Chapel of Cantuña, and (on the corner of the square) the Palace Gangotena (Casa Gangotena).

References