When I was outside on the small Quito side street, looking up at the beautiful Baroque facade towering over me, I had no idea what was waiting inside. The gray La Compania, a.k.a. The Church of the Society of Jesus, surely threw me for a loop when I crossed the threshold. It feels like the exterior and the interior belong to two different structures. I am not saying that the church front is not nice to look at, but what’s under the roof is exquisite! The wood carvings, the gold leaf, gilded plaster, the red coming through, and, the total opposite, colour wise, the blue dome, standing out. Some claim it to be Ecuador‘s most gorgeous church, and I don’t dispute 🙂
Website: fundacioniglesiadelacompania.org.ec
Note: Photos are by Diego Delso (#1) and me (#2).
I visited this incredbile church when in Quito over 10 years ago. Seeing your photos reminded me what an awe inspiring place it is #FarawayFiles
Happy to jump-start your memory 🙂
The contrast between the exterior and the interior is simply astounding, Bea! The interior of the church is extraordinary! Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
Yes, it is so totally unexpected, after seeing the outside, which is nice still.
Eye-popping shots! Looks so inspired; Ecuador in general. I enjoyed snapping churches in both Central and South America. In many ways, both are church cultures. Big time focus not on religion as much as honoring customs, like shutting down towns on Sunday for the Lord’s Day. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ryan
I visited Quito and the Galapagos Islands only in Ecuador, but loved them both. Yes, I ran into some nice churches in Peru as well.