Iglesia de El Sagrario (Church of the Sanctuary), Quito

Iglesia de El Sagrario (Church of the Sanctuary), Quito

The Church of the Sanctuary (Iglesia de El Sagrario) in Quito is a magnificent Renaissance Catholic church, which is an integral part of the Metropolitan Cathedral complex. Although it is physically connected to the cathedral, the Church of the Sanctuary stands out as an independent church due to its size and importance in the city's art. This type of sacramental chapel was originally designed as a temple annexed to a larger one and was brought to the New World by the Spanish, who built cathedrals with similar chapels.

The Church of the Sanctuary was built on an arcade that closed the old Zanguña ravine, adjacent to the Cathedral. It was designed by the architect José Jaime Ortiz, who arrived in Quito from Alicante, Spain in 1694. The church was built according to the Italian Renaissance style that was popular at the time. The façade of the church was completed by Gabriel de Escorza in 1706, while the rest of the construction was finished in 1715.

The interior of the church is particularly impressive, with beautiful altarpieces and intricate wood carvings. The main gate is considered one of the most impressive manifestations of Quitoan Baroque. It was created by Bernardo de Legarda, a famous woodcarver, and features plant forms that culminate in capricious capitals and cornices. The central vault of the church is decorated with frescoes that depict scenes from the Bible, and was commissioned by master Legarda in 1742.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Quito. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: 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.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Iglesia de El Sagrario (Church of the Sanctuary) on Map

Sight Name: Iglesia de El Sagrario (Church of the Sanctuary)
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

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.
Historical Religious Buildings Tour

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
Quito Introduction Walking Tour

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