My Favorite Churches in Ecuador

I am a history geek and the Spanish Colonial churches in Ecuador are honey to the fly drawing me in. I am happy to take a weekend to just go to Quito or Cuenca and just admire the towering architecture and snap my photos of the buildings and the plazas around them After all, what isn’t fascinating about a church that was built in the 1500s by Inca slaves of the Spanish Conquistadores, reusing the stones that once had come from their temple to the Sun God? Here is my list to the top ten churches to see in Ecuador.

Since I'm all about history, these are the best churches not only for their amazing architecture but also because of their age and timeless stories.

La Basilica del Voto Nacional (Quito)

This huge beautiful church has 24 separate chapels inside, with an impressive Neo-Gothic exterior that is quite a sight to behold. It's certainly not the oldest church in Quito, having been originally built in the late 1800s. Besides the simple majesty of the building, the animal-themed "gargoyles" all around the exterior make it quite unique. You can find la Basilica near the old city quarter, though you'll be able to see it from just about anywhere in Quito.

Santo Domingo (Guayaquil)

Here is where you can take in some real history. This church is the oldest in Guayaquil, as it dates back to 1548 though there has been a number of reconstructions over the centuries due to fire damage. Even so, I don't think that detracts too much from the deep history of the place. It's a gorgeous little church too, with a pale yellow exterior and twin green domes on the spires.

It can be a little hard to find, snuggled up under the Cerro Santa Ana (Saint Ann Hill) and a few blocks off the Malecon 2000 (the main riverwalk). Easter is magnificent, with massive processionals weaving through the city and ending here.

Church of St. Francis (Quito)

I love this church in Quito because it is so much more than just a church. Built in 1536, this place was once a collection of chapels as well as a convent and monastery. Overall, the building is 2 blocks in size which sets it apart from most other "churches" right there. The style is Renaissance and Baroque, and it took more than 70 years to complete all the construction. Impressive. The crowd here is also a little poorer than those that come to some of the other great churches of Quito, so you get a whole different vibe here. The street vendors outside are less commercial for one thing.

Church of Saint Augustine (Quito)

Like many old churches, this one has had some reconstruction done since its founding in the 16th century. Still, it has great Spanish style with an unusual dark portico that stands out against the stark white facade of the rest of the church. 

El Sagrario (Cuenca)

This is the ancient church I mentioned earlier, built in 1557 using stones from the Incan ruins of Tumbebamba. There are a lot of stories that the old Tumbebamba, a regional capital of the ancient Inca Empire, was the source of the legends of the City of Gold. If that is not an incredible historic heritage, I don't know what is. 

Unlike the other churches on my list, this one isn't still currently used for worship. It's a religious art museum today. I think this makes a lovely transition so typical of Cuenca. This Andean town has the massive Spanish Colonial buildings, and has a number of old Incan ruins within a day trip, but it is also a university town with a large, English speaking expat community.

La Compania (Quito)

Also called the Church of the Society of Jesus, this Jesuit church just demands that the treasure hunter inside of you has to come and see this. It is known for it's spectacular interior design rather than it's outside architecture. Yeah, the design is great, but the jaw-dropping part here is that the nave inside is completely gilded in gold leaf, and is flat out, undeniable, heart thumping stunning. And it satisfies my need for history, having been built in the early 1600s.

Cathedral Nueva (Cuenca)

Known in English as the New Cathedral, this church is a more modern replacement for El Sagrario that I just mentioned. It has a different style than most, using red bricks instead of the massive stone work of other Ecuadorian churches. It has a much less ornate exterior. However the Cuenca downtown area is dominated by the brilliant blue domes. It sits near El Sagrario so it is a great and easy idea to check out both churches.

Church of San Francisco (Guayaquil)

This is a newer church in Guayaquil, by newer meaning it was built in the 1700s and 1800s. It's a pretty contemporary church compared to the rest of this list, but it's too lovely to pass by. My favorite part isn't so much the inside as the outside plaza. San Francisco is in the middle of the main business district of El Centro, not far from the US Consulate and a few blocks from the main Malecon 2000 touristy boardwalk. It is also surrounded by many markets of all shapes and sizes. A visit here can quickly turn into an all-day session.

Balbanera Church (Riobamba)

This is no where near the magnificence and iconic splendor of most of the other churches on my list, but if you are going through Riobamba this just tugs at the historian in me. I added this one because it has the notoriety of being the first Catholic church in all of Ecuador. I'll admit it's a very simple and understated building so don't expect a towering Gothic masterpiece. You go because you want to to see what most churches looked like in the 1500s and 1600s, not the masterpieces from the great cities. You go to Balbanera to commune with the ghosts of its nearly 500 year history.

Church of El Carmen of Asuncion (Cuenca)

This smooth stuccoed church has a much different look than the others, which is why I add it in as my final offering. This is more typical of a town church you would see outside of the great cities during the 1800s. Outside it is relatively plain, but inside it is an illogical puzzle of coves and nooks filled with statuary and sculpture. I love the clean lines and calm feeling of it. It is also conveniently in the old town area of Cuenca, a few blocks from La Catedral Nueva and is right on the edge of a large market.