Church of the Society of Jesus

An in gold foil wrapped homage to god! Built between 1605 and 1765 by the Jesuits, this church hides behind its baroque facade of volcanic stone an abundance of splendor that seems to be completely covered with no less than seven seven tons of gold leaf! In addition to the many paintings and statues, the imposing church choir, the elaborately decorated pulpit and the sarcophagus with the remains of Mariana de Jesus, the patron saint of Ecuador, are the most important art treasures of this overwhelming church.

Free guide is provided. They are volunteers from students studying in tourism industry. Lots of wonder of the architecture achievement on the structure.

Must visit. Beautiful architecture. Entry fee of USD 5.00 per person. They don't allow photography in this church which is very sad as the inside is really beautiful.

The detail in all of the gold, silver and wood is simply breathtaking. Definitely a must see if you're in Quito. They do not allow pictures to be taken, which is somewhat a shame, because the world should be able to see the care taken in the creation of this beauty.

This was a fascinating the place to visit. We were able to get onto the roof of the church and take some photographs of the surrounding area. The one showing the courtyard is of the old Jesuit University.