Quito
Old City
Old Quito (Old Town) - To get a feel of the old Spanish colonial city, take a walking tour around Old Quito. The Plaza Grande (Independencia), at the heart of the historic district, has a monument to Ecuadorian independence.
Church and Monastery of San Francisco (Iglesia and Convento de San Francisco) - San Francisco is the oldest church in Quito (built on the site of an Inca house). The interior of the church is magnificent baroque architecture with beautifully carved statues and gilded chapels. Next door to the church is the convent, which houses the Museo de San Francisco (17th century paintings and religious art). The tour of the museum also includes a visit to the organ loft, a view of the whole church from high above. Museo de la Ciudad - Housed in the old Hospital San Juan de Dios, the museum exhibits the history of the city from Inca times to the present.Editor's note: Old Quito is charming, but has a reputation for tourists being robbed. We wandered around Old Quito without any difficulty, but kept our cameras out of sight.
