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Professionally designed and displayed pre-Colombian history of Ecuador. Excellent bi-lingual texts!
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The "gold Room" displays a collection of some of the most fascinating pre-Colombian golden jewellery and artefacts.
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Particularly the coast of Ecuador has been studded with pottery.
Often layers and layers of smithereens, but wonderful in tact graves have also been found and some beautifully displayed artefacts can be found in the National Museum Ecuador. Countless artefacts are displayed in the Archaeological Room.
The National Museum of Ecuador shows some fabulous reconstructions of burial sites: |
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Tastefully displayed in the Gold Room (Sala del Oro), countless golden artefacts are displayed in show cases, grave reconstructions and on replica mannequins. |
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The Colonial Art room show cases beautiful artifacts from churches and well-to-families. |
A "custodia" = Sacred receptacle for keeping a symbolic peace of holy bread or wafer. |
Gold-leaf covered woodcarving of saint. |
Replica on manequin of golden crown |
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City Museum of Quito |
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City Museum of Quito (Museo de la Ciudad de Quito) is located in the former Hospital San Juan de Dios. Its modest $3 entry fee is well worth your money. The museum gives a great impression about Quito's early days and its history.
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Many colonial scenes are realistically and artfully displayed in the historical building of the hospital. Well worth a visit. The hospital's beautifully restored chapel is now primarily used for musical and other living arts performances.
Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian ArtThe Casa del Alabado, Museum of Pre-Columbian Art is a museum in a beautiful colonial mansion in old town Quito. The museum is dedicated to Ecuadorian pre-Columbian art and well worth your visit.
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Carmen Alto Convent MuseumThe Carmen Alto Convent has a religious museum with religious paintings and statues. Beautiful court yard of the convent.
San Francisco Convent MuseumBetter designed than the previously listed museum, the San Francisco Convent Museum, to the right of the Church, also houses a collection of religious art pieces and paintings. Moreover, it gives a great view over the convent's premises with 2 beautiful patios and a unique view over the church from the otherwise inaccessible balcony.
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Courtyard San Francisco Convent Museum is one of the finest courtyards of old town Quito |
Exposition San Francisco Convent Museum |
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Sucre MuseumIn 1828, the liberator and first president of Ecuador bought this house as his residence, but only lived there briefly until he was assassinated in 1830. It is a beautiful colonial mansion with a collection of weapons and wonderful furniture of the period. The house gives a splendid impression of how the upper-class and nobles of the day lived in Quito. It is managed by Ecuador's armed forces.
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The Sucre Museum. |
The court yard of the Sucre House. |
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The living room of the Sucre family. |
The saddle room of the Sucre House. |
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Banco Central Museum |
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Formerly the home of the national archaeological collection including the renowned Golden Sun Mask, the beautiful neoclassical former Banco Central building is now a monetary museum, which still is worth visiting even though it no longer has the prestige of its former archaeological collection, even if if were just for seeing the building interior. |
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Centro Cultural MetropolitanoThis free cultural center of Quito in a neo-classical building across the street from the palace has frequent expositions and is well worth walking in. It has beautiful court yards and a library.
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Above left: Centro Cultural Metropolitano entrance.
Above right: Exposition hall.
Left: Court yard Centro Cultural Metropolitano. |
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National Cathedral MuseumThe National Cathedral Museum or Museo Catedral Primada de Quito, is a must as it is the home of the most beautiful room of Quito, the Sala Capitular, which I consider the Versailles Ball Room of Quito and a must see. It further houses a smaller chapel behind the Cathedral, with the Mausoleum of Sucre and a great collection of religious are. The entrance is little known and located at Calle Venezuela 3-117 & Espejo.
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The inconspicuous entrance of the National Cathedral Museum. |
Quito's "Versailles Ball Room", the Sala Capitular, the most beautiful room in Quito in one of the finest museums in Quito, the National Cathedral Museum.
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Beautiful robes and miters of the early bishops of Quito are guarded in the treasure room. |
The Admiral Sucre Mausoleum in the Chapel of the National Cathedral Museum. |
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The Chimbacalle Railroad Station used to be the Quito central railroad station during the 19th and 20th century until the railroad system fell became dysfunctional in the 80s. In 2008 the government started restoring the railroad system of Ecuador into its former glory and since 2014, it is possible again to ride the fabulous train from Quito to Guayaquil, passing through the Devil's Nose Pass.
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One of the finest colonial mansions, from the street, the Maria Augusta Urritia House-Museum appears rather inconspicuous. Located on the Garcia Moreno street just past the Jesus Compania church, this museum is a must to see for a brief walk-in visit to get an impression on how the upper-class lived in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Built in 1873, the Observatory of Quito is the oldest on the continent. Renovated in 2009, it is both a museum of historical instruments and open to the public for star gazing on cloudless nights. | ||||
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The Botanical Garden of Quito in the Carolina Park has a great selection of incredibly beautiful native flowers you will have difficulty finding in the wild. A must for every ecotourist. As they are all within 100m of each other, you may also enjoy visiting the Museum of Natural History and the amphibians and reptiles collection at the Vivarium.
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A small museum in a beautiful mansion with colonial art.
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Cultural Center La Casa de Juan Cafe Sibari with performing arts. |
Aquarelle Museum of the work of Munoz Marion. |
A shop on Plaza San Fransisco, Tianguez has a nice terrace. |
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The Wax Museum in Quito in the former city jail not only has historical scenes like the French Geodesian mission in wax statues, but also some very interesting catacombs that run under the Plaza Central, connecting palaces and churches. |
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