Iglesia de San Francisco (Church of San Francisco), Quito (must see)

The dominant structure in San Francisco Square is the stunning Church of San Francisco, listed as a World Heritage Site in 1978. It is the oldest religious site in Ecuador.

The building has three churches, 13 cloisters for its monks, a library with historical documents, and more than 3,500 works of religious art in the convent’s museum. The complex was built between 1537 and 1560. A century later, it was finally completed, and today it is the largest Catholic complex in South America.

Earthquakes have repeatedly damaged parts of the church, which means the edifice is under constant maintenance. It has been included in the 2016 World Monuments Watch to ensure that religious art and architecture are conserved.

The interior expertly combines Catholic and Indigenous icons, while the exterior combines Renaissance and Baroque influences. The complex is an important religious and cultural center, receiving almost a million visitors every year.