The Plaza Grande in Quito, Ecuador
The Plaza de la
Independencia, better known as the Plaza Grande, is the heart of Quito’s
historical center, and a historical space where a series of events of vital
political importance in Ecuador have taken place. To this day, it is a social
meeting place for the people who live in the city. The square is surrounded by
four large buildings: the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the
Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito and the Municipal Palace. All these facts make
it an obligatory place to visit once you arrive at Ecuador’s capital. For this
reason, in this note we tell you a little about the history of the Plaza
Grande, how to get there and which are the sites to visit once you are there.
Cover photo: The Plaza Grande by: David Almeida, Flickr
We invite to read the complete article about the best things to do in Quito (by a local).
A brief history of the Plaza
Grande#
In the 17th century, in 1612, the powers of
the city moved to the surroundings of the Plaza Grande. In this square there
was a water fountain that helped supply the vital liquid to the people who
lived in the area and its surroundings. In addition, the square also served as
a market. It was in the 18th century that the Plaza Grande took on the form and
importance of a main square, and began to serve as a garden for the Carondelet
Palace. In the late nineteenth century and until the mid-twentieth century, the
Plaza Grande was converted into a French-style garden, and in 1903, President
Eloy Alfaro ordered the construction of a monument to commemorate the centenary
of the first cry for independence of the country, which replaced a monument to
Isabel the Catholic.
We recommend you read our article on Quito’s historical center.
How to get to Plaza Grande#
If you are arriving
in the country and want to know how to get from the airport
to the historic center of Quito, be sure to read our article
in which we provide detailed information on how to do so through different
means of transport.
The recommended way
to get to the Plaza Grande is to go on board the city’s official double-decker
tourist bus. Quito City Tour
by Quito Tour Bus offers you a comfortable, safe and fun tour of the main
tourist attractions in the largest and best preserved historical center of
Latin America.
Thanks to our Hop
On – Hop Off system you will be able to get off and on at our established stops
at one hour intervals. If you take the Quito City Tour,
you will need to get off the bus at stop 9, called Plaza Grande (Venezuela and
Mejia). The first bus arrives at this stop at 10.00 am, and the last one at
6.00 pm. In this square you will be able to visit the 4 powers of the state:
the Government Palace, the Main Cathedral of Quito, the Cabildo and the
Archbishop’s Palace. Find out more about our stops and schedules.
Quito City Tour
Photo by: Quito Tour Bus
What
to see and do near Plaza Grande#
Moving on, we would like to share with you the
main places and activities you can do near Plaza Grande.
Monument
to Independence#
In the centre of
the Plaza Grande you can find the famous Monument to Independence. It is also
known as the Monument to the Heroes of 10 August 1809, the date on which the
First Cry for Independence of the Royal Audience of Quito on the Spanish
monarchy was held. This monument was built at the beginning of the 20th century
to honor the heroes of the Independence, and therefore symbolizes the triumph
of the Republic over the Spanish crown.
Monument to Independence
Photo by: Quito Tour Bus
Government Palace
(Carondelet Palace)#
The Carondelet
Palace, also known as the Government Palace or the Presidential Palace, is the
seat of the Government of the Republic of Ecuador and the residence of the
President of the Republic. You can take guided tours inside the Carondelet
Palace (booking in advance), and the opening hours are 9.00 am to 4.00 pm,
Tuesday to Sunday (Guided tours. Presidency of the Republic of Ecuador, 2020).
Remember that every
Monday at 11.00 in the morning, you can witness the changing of the guards of
the Presidential Escort, Tarqui Grenadiers, in the Plaza de la Independencia.
In addition, on the ground floor of the Presidential Palace you can find a traditional
barber shop and some craft shops.
Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace
Photo by: David Almeida, Flickr
The
Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito – Main Cathedral of Quito#
The Metropolitan
Cathedral of Quito, declared the First Cathedral of Ecuador in 1995, is the
most important Catholic temple in the country. Located in the middle of the
colonial area, next to the Plaza Grande, the cathedral is well known for having
inside the remains of the Grand Marshal of Ayacucho, Antonio José de Sucre,
hero of the Ecuadorian independence; and of Juan José Flores, the first
constitutional president of the Republic of Ecuador.
This famous
cathedral, an architectural jewel of the Plaza Grande, is located at 715
Venezuela and Espejo streets. The opening hours are from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm,
Monday to Saturday. Once there, you can visit the church, the museum (where you
can see the works of great exponents of the Quito school) and the domes.
The Main Cathedral
Photo by: Quito Tour Bus
Museum of Defence “Casa
de Sucre”#
Located on
Venezuela and Sucre streets, you will find the well-known Museo Casa de Sucre,
a place where you can learn about the intimate life of the Grand Marshal of
Ayacucho, Antonio José de Sucre, the hero of Spanish-American independence, and
his wife, Mariana Carcelén, Marquesa de Solanda y Villarocha. The place is
divided into two floors and has a central patio with a traditional colonial
stone swimming pool. The opening hours of the Museo Casa de Sucre are 9.00 am
to 5.30 pm, Monday to Sunday.
Archbishop’s Palace#
This is another of
the buildings located in the Plaza de la Independencia, seat of the
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Quito and official residence of the Archbishop of
Quito and Primate of Ecuador. Upon entering the palace, you will find a series
of restaurants that offer national and international food on different floors,
as well as several shops selling 100% Ecuadorian handicrafts, cafes and
internet cafes.
Inside the Archbishop’s Palace
Photo by: Dr. Thomas Liptak, Flickr
The Plaza Grande ‘sánduches’#
In the area of the
Plaza Grande you can find a great diversity of restaurants and cafes, but if
you are looking for something really traditional in the sector, we recommend
you try the traditional “Sánduches de la Plaza Grande”, located in
the Archbishop’s Palace. These sandwiches contain the sausage and side dishes
of your choice, and you can pair them with a delicious coffee, fruit juice,
soda or beer. We are sure you will love them.
Plaza Grande sánduches
Foto por: Quito Tour Bus
El Quinde Visitors Center#
The Quinde Visitors
Center, located on Venezuela and Espejo streets in front of the Plaza Grande,
is a space where you can find the best artisan products in Quito. In addition,
in the Quinde Visitors Center you will find tourist information points of Quito
Tourism. Some of the services offered at El Quinde Visitors Center are: free
lockers for personal objects, relevant information on the city’s museums and
attraction schedules, and maps. You can also purchase your Quito Tour Bus
tickets here. The opening hours of the Quinde Visitors Center are Monday to
Saturday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, and Sunday from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.
Get to know the
Plaza Grande, the heart of the city’s historical heritage, in the company of
Quito, and explore all the tourist attractions of the best preserved and
largest historical center in Latin America.
