Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco
4.5
About
Established in 1536 by Franciscan monks, this magnificent architectural masterpiece features a museum in its convent with art from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
1,717 reviews
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Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands5,981 contributions
Jan 2020
This is the largest religious colonial complex in Latin America. It was established on the ruins of Atahualpa's palace and took some 150 years to build (completed in 1680). Atahualpa, the last Inca ruler refused to adopt the Roman Catholic faith and become a vassal of the King of Spain. He was executed by strangulation. After killing the leaders, the big project of Christianization of the indigenous population started. The San Franciscan order was instrumental in bringing it about.
Knowing the history, you start looking at the church and convent in a different way. The Baroque art in the church interior and on show in the museum served a missionary purpose. To impress the locals and evangelize them on the very spot where their subordination began.
Knowing the history, you start looking at the church and convent in a different way. The Baroque art in the church interior and on show in the museum served a missionary purpose. To impress the locals and evangelize them on the very spot where their subordination began.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mingfatsai
Grand Island, NE4,445 contributions
Jun 2021
The most massive Catholic complex in the Western world (and perhaps superseded only by the Vatican), is definitely worth a visit if you are in central Quito. The Church of St. Francis is quite ornate and remarkably unscathed for a wooden structure. The courtyards are a pleasant respite from the square outside and at the top of the stairs to the passage that leads to the church is a vaulted area where one person can whisper into one side of the vault and another can stand 20 feet away and clearly hear the whispering as if it were amplified. Supposedly, this design was to permit taking confessions remotely so that the priests could keep a safe distance from the indigenous confessors and not catch a disease. If only it had worked the other way around. Take a step back it time!
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather
Las Vegas, NV1,436 contributions
Sep 2022 • Solo
This is a huge, old, beautiful church with a large plaza in the front. It is free to enter the church, and although there is a sign that says "no pictures" you can take pictures as long as you don't use flash. Even if you aren't religious it is worth seeing the inside of this church.
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Armando P
Guatemala City, Guatemala561 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
The church is very beautiful, both outside and inside, it is an essential place for those who want to know the history of Quito and lovers of art and culture.
You can go alone to the church or also combine it with the convent (this one is paid) and it is big.
The church is completely Baroque in style.
If you want to go up to the choir, you have to pay with the convent, and the towers too, except that the towers and the stairs are very narrow, so those who have claustrophobia problems may be affected a little.
You can go alone to the church or also combine it with the convent (this one is paid) and it is big.
The church is completely Baroque in style.
If you want to go up to the choir, you have to pay with the convent, and the towers too, except that the towers and the stairs are very narrow, so those who have claustrophobia problems may be affected a little.
Written December 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EmilyMartha
Newark, NJ286 contributions
Jul 2021
The church itself is gorgeous, but it was the tour that really took our breath away. The cloisters are lovely, but the best features are the myriad paintings and sculptures, some of them very unique. We saw the convento on a mandatory tour; we were not disappointed.
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory W
Mankato, MN3,826 contributions
Dec 2021
San Francisco is considered a jewel of continental architecture for its mix of different styles taking more than 150 years to build. It includes a church and convent. It is the largest colonial structure in the city. Construction began in 1534. It said the Franciscan monk who founded it was also the first man to sow wheat in Ecuador.
Written January 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin S
Pontypridd, UK7,058 contributions
Jan 2023
$3 entry fee for the convent and Church. The convent is mostly a museum of religious art and items displayed in various rooms. Nothing remains to tell you of the convent although the structure is complete with cloisters around courtyards.
The church is a glorious site, although entry when we were there was not at ground level but from an upper large balcony area housing the organ. Poorly lit but still enough to see the beautiful church interior.
The church is a glorious site, although entry when we were there was not at ground level but from an upper large balcony area housing the organ. Poorly lit but still enough to see the beautiful church interior.
Written February 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda B
Ogden, UT403 contributions
Nov 2021
Stopped here on the Trolley Tour. Wow! Everywhere you look there is very ornate carvings, columns and statues. Truly awe-inspiring at the amount of work that went into decorating this place of worship. I would be thankful to have a wondrous place like this to visit on a regular basis.
Written April 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sazkya C
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Business
It was a wonderful experience visiting this World Heritage Place. It is a remarkable example of colonial architecture and art in Ecuador. The church is adorned with impressive paintings, sculptures and altar pieces that reflect the artistic diversity of the Quito School. The Basilica and convent of San Francisco de Quito is a must-see for anyone interested in the history and heritage of Ecuador.
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,719 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
This beautiful church has its prominent presence on St Francisco square. The stairs elevator the architectural body of the church allowing for the lower level to host a nice small restaurant, public bathroom and a great souvenir art store. Not as opulent as the Jesuit church, the Franciscan temple is also magnificent.
Written June 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is Mass celebrated on Sundays? If so, where would I find a schedule of services?
Written September 8, 2024
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