La Capilla del Hombre (The Chapel of Man), Quito

La Capilla del Hombre (The Chapel of Man), Quito (must see)

The painter Oswaldo Guayasamín's La Capilla del Hombre ("The Chapel of Man") occupies a site in Bellavista overlooking the city of Quito, Ecuador. The Capilla is a purpose-built art museum dedicated to the peoples of Latin America. Construction of Guayasamín's masterpiece began in 1995 and unfortunately was not completed until 2002, after his death.

Although this chapel contains fewer pieces of Guayasamín's art than the nearby foundation and museum, the building he designed provides an atmosphere specific to his artwork to view his paintings. The Capilla del Hombre exhibits Guayasamín's work as a history of human suffering and violence in Latin America and the world. It includes sculptures and murals and integrates the surroundings into an artistic interpretation of the subject.

Why You Should Visit:
Truly moving space. Obviously not simply meant to house as many works as possible; the select collection is the best of Guayasamín's most powerful work, which is presented by a stunning building.

Tip:
Take the free tour if at all possible, because it contextualizes the art and gives you a greater appreciation of what Guayasamín was trying to accomplish (and tip the guide if s/he does a good job).
You can buy originals and reproduction prints in the gallery & the house ($7 for a reproduction), but DO NOT ship them from the gallery if you're sending anything home (too expensive); just buy it and ship from a local post office instead.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

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.

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La Capilla del Hombre (The Chapel of Man) on Map

Sight Name: La Capilla del Hombre (The Chapel of Man)
Sight Location: Quito, Ecuador (See walking tours in Quito)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

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.
Quito Introduction Walking Tour

Quito Introduction Walking Tour

Born from Inca dreams and Spanish conquest, Quito stands high in the Andes—not just between valleys and volcanoes, but between worlds: indigenous, colonial, and modern.

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in South America. Its name is believed to derive from the Quitus, an Indigenous group that lived in the area long before the Inca conquest. The...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
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