Quito from the top

Views from the teleferico and the Basilica del Voto National

I am in Ecuador with Fernanda. We mainly stay in Riobamba, the city where her family lives. From there, we travel to other cities and parts of the country. Recently, we visited the capital, Quito, and we spent five days there. On the first day, we did a free walking tour of the old town, on the second day, we visited the Indigenous Market in Otavalo, and on the third day Mitad del Mundo.

On the last day, we first used the cable car to reach a viewpoint of the city, and after we visited la Basilica del Voto Nacional to see the city from another perspective.

Recently we were surprised by the futuristic cable car system in La Paz, the cable car in Quito has nothing to compare with the one in Bolivia, but it is one of the highest aerial lifts in the world and a popular tourist attraction. Officially known as the TelefériQo, it takes visitors on a scenic ride from the city, located at approximately 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level, up the slopes of the Volcán Pichincha to a height of 4,050 meters (13,290 feet). The ride costs 9$ for foreings, covers a distance of about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) and lasts approximately 18 minutes.

At the top, you arrive at Cruz Loma, a viewpoint offering breathtaking panoramic views of Quito and the surrounding Andes mountains. On a clear day, it is possible to see several volcanoes, including Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Antisana, and Chimborazo. Unfortunately, the day was cloudy, but I appreciated the view anyway. It was fascinating to see how long the city is, it stretches in the valley like a white line.

I liked the cable car ride, and the small hike to reach the viewpoint, even if the weather was not the best I would have stayed there forever, but we had to go down to the old town to visit the Basilica.

Before visiting this landmark we had a lunch break. A nice way to have a cheap, fast and rich meal is to look for a place that do almuerzo, for lunch, and merienda, for dinner: usually for 2-3 $ you can have soup, a second dish, a sweet and a drink.

La Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito is a prominent neo-Gothic church and one of the largest and most iconic religious structures in Latin America. Construction began in 1892, inspired by the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, and while the basilica was officially inaugurated in 1988, it remains technically "unfinished." According to local legend, the completion of the basilica would signal the end of the world, so minor work continues to this day.

The basilica's architectural style features classic Gothic elements, including pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and towering spires. However, it also incorporates unique Ecuadorian touches: instead of traditional gargoyles, the exterior is adorned with grotesques resembling native animals such as iguanas, tortoises, armadillos, and condors. These local motifs give the structure a distinct identity while still maintaining its Gothic essence.

We bought the tickets to climb to the top of the basilica’s towers, which involves navigating steep ladders and narrow passageways. We saw the basilica’s interior, filled with stained glass windows and statues. The effort was rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of Quito's historic centre, the surrounding mountains, and the Virgin of the Panecillo.

La Virgen del Panecillo (Virgin of the Panecillo), is an iconic statue perched atop El Panecillo, a small hill in the heart of Quito. Standing 45 meters (148 feet) tall, this massive aluminium statue is one of the tallest in South America and a prominent symbol of the city.

The statue, created by Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras and completed in 1975, depicts the Virgin Mary with a unique twist: she has wings and is stepping on a chained dragon, symbolizing triumph over evil. This representation of Mary is inspired by the Virgin of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation, a rare depiction compared to traditional, wingless portrayals. The statue is modelled after a 1734 sculpture by Bernardo de Legarda, a master artist of the Quito School, known for its blend of Indigenous and Spanish artistic traditions.

It is possible to ascend the Panecillo to reach the Virgin, where a small museum and viewing platform inside the statue provide a closer look at the structure’s design and history. We didn’t find the time to go there, mainly because of the bad weather, and also because it is not considered a safe part of the city after dark.

The Basilica del Voto Nacional was my favourite place in Quito, the building is stunning, visiting it was fun and the view of the city was great. When we got out of the Basilica, we managed, just in time, to reach a cafè before a big storm hit the city, with hail. We had a coffee and empanadas while waiting, and when the situation improved we went back to our accommodation. The morning after we had the bus back to Riobamba, but just for a few days, before visiting another interesting place.

See you soon,

Flavio