One of the great attractions in Quito is the colonial quarter, located in downtown Quito.

One of its main features is the church of San Francisco that overlooks a cobblestone plaza of the same name. The church and nearby monastery are remnants of the colonial period, examples of the grand architecture and monumental buildings erected in that era approximately 500 years ago.

The facade captures anyone’s attention but it is the elaborate and lavish gold ceiling in the interior that takes the breath away. Ecuador prides itself in maintaining and renovating its colonial church structures and this is one building not to be missed.