Santo Domingo Church borders the southern edge of Quito Old Town and stands grandly over Santo Domingo Plaza. The church represents fascinating periods in Quito’s religious history, as it was constructed by Dominicans and modified by Italian priests. Visit Santo Domingo Church to admire its impressive architecture, finely decorated interior, and sculptures and paintings by celebrated Dominican artists.
Start your visit to Santo Domingo Church by wandering around Santo Domingo Plaza. Visit the statue of Ecuadorian independence hero, Antonio José de Sucre. Sucre faces toward the distant Pichincha volcano, where he won the battle for the country’s independence in 1822.
The church’s stately tower features Baroque architectural styling and a city clock. Inside the church, admire the neoclassical and Baroque altarpieces and Moorish-style details. Santo Domingo Church is well known for its awe-inspiring collection of art, located in the Lady of the Rosary chapel and the church museum. See magnificent works by noteworthy Quiteño artists, including carvings, reliefs and stunning frescos. Also on display is the famous sculpture of the Virgen del Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary) and fine examples of artworks from the Quito School of Art.
Wander through to the cloister’s quiet garden area and explore the priory’s upper floor. Return to the Santa Domingo Plaza, where on weekends you can be entertained by local street performers such as acrobats, jugglers and magicians. Check out Santo Domingo Church after nightfall, when yellow floodlights illuminate the church’s architecture.
Santo Domingo Church is located on Santo Domingo Plaza, directly south from Independence Square. A trolleybus station is located on-site, and the church is easily accessible on foot. Exercise caution in the surrounding streets as muggers can take advantage of tourists traveling alone or in small groups in the area. The church is open daily but closes for a few hours in the early afternoon. Entry to Santo Domingo Church is free.