Iglesia de La Merced

With its plain white exterior, handsome bell tower (the highest in Colonial Quito) and tiled domes, the church of La Merced is a good example of the Moorish influences in Spanish architecture in the late 18th century, and a pleasure to stumble upon while exploring the backstreets of Colonial Quito. The rather conservative-looking exterior, however, does little to prepare you for what is inside; a sea of pink and white plasterwork covering every surface provides the backdrop for surely some of the most imaginative and dramatic paintings in Quito, while bleeding, neon-lit, Jesus statues occupy shiny gold side chapels around the edge. Not to everyone’s taste, but certainly worth a look if you’re passing by.

Location:
Chile and Cuenca
Centro Histórico, Quito, Ecuador

Historical Building

Open Hours from:7 a.m. - noon, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.

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