Basilica del Voto Nacional (Basilica of the National Vow), Quito (must see)
At its altitude of 9,350 feet, Quito is the second-highest city in the world (trailing only La Paz, Bolivia). But even at this height, the visitors will be tempted to climb to the top of the Basilica of the National Vow to see the stunning views!
The idea of Quito鈥檚 most impressive Roman Catholic church came about in 1883. A congressman, Father Julio Matovelle, suggested building a monument as a reminder of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, its patron, and protector. A year later, the construction began to take shape, and the first stone was placed in 1892.
It took 30 years to build the Basilica, but it has not officially been completed. Local legend states that the world will end when completion is final. Located in the San Juan neighborhood, the Basilica has a height of 377 meters, which makes it South America鈥檚 highest church.
Designed in the Neo-Gothic style, the Basilica鈥檚 construction was supervised by Emilio Tarlier, a French architect. Tarlier fused the design of France鈥檚 Notre Dame and Spain鈥檚 Cathedral of Burgos. For the construction, Congress designated 12,000 pesos.
Around the church鈥檚 central nave are 24 chapels. Each chapel represents a province of Ecuador. There is also an underground crypt and a pantheon, where four Heads of State have been laid to rest.
Visiting the Basilica is easy, as the guests can walk around and see the architecture on a self-guided tour. They can climb even higher than Quito鈥檚 9,350 feet, take an elevator (or climb the stairs) to the top floor, where there are a museum and a caf茅. However, what鈥檚 spectacular are the views of the city from the top of the tower.
The Basilica of the National Vow is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm and the towers from 8:30 am to 6 pm.
The idea of Quito鈥檚 most impressive Roman Catholic church came about in 1883. A congressman, Father Julio Matovelle, suggested building a monument as a reminder of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, its patron, and protector. A year later, the construction began to take shape, and the first stone was placed in 1892.
It took 30 years to build the Basilica, but it has not officially been completed. Local legend states that the world will end when completion is final. Located in the San Juan neighborhood, the Basilica has a height of 377 meters, which makes it South America鈥檚 highest church.
Designed in the Neo-Gothic style, the Basilica鈥檚 construction was supervised by Emilio Tarlier, a French architect. Tarlier fused the design of France鈥檚 Notre Dame and Spain鈥檚 Cathedral of Burgos. For the construction, Congress designated 12,000 pesos.
Around the church鈥檚 central nave are 24 chapels. Each chapel represents a province of Ecuador. There is also an underground crypt and a pantheon, where four Heads of State have been laid to rest.
Visiting the Basilica is easy, as the guests can walk around and see the architecture on a self-guided tour. They can climb even higher than Quito鈥檚 9,350 feet, take an elevator (or climb the stairs) to the top floor, where there are a museum and a caf茅. However, what鈥檚 spectacular are the views of the city from the top of the tower.
The Basilica of the National Vow is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm and the towers from 8:30 am to 6 pm.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Quito. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Basilica del Voto Nacional (Basilica of the National Vow) on Map
Sight Name: Basilica del Voto Nacional (Basilica of the National Vow)
Sight Location: Quito, Ecuador (See walking tours in Quito)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Quito, Ecuador (See walking tours in Quito)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Quito, Ecuador
Create Your Own Walk in Quito
Creating your own self-guided walk in Quito is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Quito Introduction Walking Tour
Nestled high in the Andean foothills, at an altitude of 2,850m, Ecuador's capital Quito is deservedly nicknamed "The City in the Clouds". Its full formal title, however, is much longer: "The Very Noble and Loyal City of San Francisco of Quito". The name Quito is derived from the Quitu tribe that originally inhabited the area, and is a combination of two words: quitso... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings Tour
As a former Spanish colony, Ecuador and its capital city Quito are home to literally dozens of Catholic churches. The Spaniards brought their faith into the new country and built many great temples here, some of which even pre-date the city of Quito itself.
Among the key local landmarks of ecclesiastical architecture is the Santo Domingo Church, dating back to the 16th century and showcasing a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Among the key local landmarks of ecclesiastical architecture is the Santo Domingo Church, dating back to the 16th century and showcasing a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles