Plaza de San Francisco (San Francisco Square), Quito
In the Old Town sits cobbled San Francisco Square, one of the oldest and most beautiful sights in Quito. The dramatic San Francisco Church towers behind, making it one of the most Instagram-worthy squares in the city.
San Francisco Square previously served as a marketplace and an exchange point between chiefdoms during the Incan Empire. Huayna Capac, the Incan emperor, built his palace where the San Francisco Church sits today.
During the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, the Incans burned everything to the ground to prevent the Spanish from using the place and the Inca palace. The Spanish won, and to celebrate the victory, they renamed the plaza “San Francisco de Quito.”
San Francisco Square has a huge religious significance. The Jesus of the Great Power procession, which takes place on Good Friday, begins in the Square.
The Square’s majestic old town beauty attracts photographers, snapping photos early in the morning before the crowds come. Take a great photo from just about every angle!
In addition, visitors can enjoy Ecuadorian blackberry juice (jugo de mora) or an Ecuadorian pilsener beer at one of the cafés located here and watch many tourists and Quiteno people strolling along as they get on with their business, or visit an ancient brewery located in the square.
San Francisco Square previously served as a marketplace and an exchange point between chiefdoms during the Incan Empire. Huayna Capac, the Incan emperor, built his palace where the San Francisco Church sits today.
During the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire, the Incans burned everything to the ground to prevent the Spanish from using the place and the Inca palace. The Spanish won, and to celebrate the victory, they renamed the plaza “San Francisco de Quito.”
San Francisco Square has a huge religious significance. The Jesus of the Great Power procession, which takes place on Good Friday, begins in the Square.
The Square’s majestic old town beauty attracts photographers, snapping photos early in the morning before the crowds come. Take a great photo from just about every angle!
In addition, visitors can enjoy Ecuadorian blackberry juice (jugo de mora) or an Ecuadorian pilsener beer at one of the cafés located here and watch many tourists and Quiteno people strolling along as they get on with their business, or visit an ancient brewery located in the square.
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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Plaza de San Francisco (San Francisco Square) on Map
Sight Name: Plaza de San Francisco (San Francisco Square)
Sight Location: Quito, Ecuador (See walking tours in Quito)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Quito, Ecuador (See walking tours in Quito)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Quito, Ecuador
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.
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
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
Quito Introduction Walking Tour
Nestled high in the Andean foothills, at an altitude of 2,850m, Ecuador's capital Quito is deservedly nicknamed "The City in the Clouds". Its full formal title, however, is much longer: "The Very Noble and Loyal City of San Francisco of Quito". The name Quito is derived from the Quitu tribe that originally inhabited the area, and is a combination of two words: quitso... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles