The Catedral Metropolitana de Quito stands on the Plaza de la Independencia in the historic centre of Quito, Ecuador's capital. Its address is Venezuela y Espejo, and it is also known as the Quito Metropolitan Cathedral or Catedral Primada. It serves as the main Catholic church of the city.
The cathedral dates from 1562, which makes it one of the long-established colonial buildings in a city whose centre is itself a UNESCO-listed historic area. Its neoclassical facade gives it a more formal look than many of the older churches nearby, and the interior holds important religious artifacts.
What a visit is like
Visitors come to see the building as a place of worship and as a piece of the city's colonial past. Because it is a working church, the atmosphere is often quiet and devotional, and it is worth keeping that in mind when you walk through.
The cathedral is also the burial site of several presidents and notable figures, so it links the religious life of Quito with its civic history. Many visitors combine it with the square itself, which is surrounded by other historic buildings.
The area around it
- The Plaza de la Independencia, the open square in front of the cathedral.
- The wider historic centre of Quito, with its colonial streets and churches.
For practical details such as current visiting arrangements, you can call the cathedral on +593 2-257-0371 before you go.
