Santa Barbara Church

The charming white and blue church you see here is the Iglesia de Santa Bárbara. It was originally built in the 16th century and briefly used by the Jesuits between 1586 and 1589. Despite its age, it’s actually considered one of the more modern churches in Quito and doesn’t hold many ancient relics. If you decide to step inside, you’ll find a handful of paintings and statues of saints. The church is named after Saint Barbara, who was especially venerated by the early colonists. She was believed to protect the faithful from barbarians and non-believers. Now, you might be asking yourself — why are there so many churches in Quito? The answer lies in the city’s extraordinary colonial legacy. The historic center alone holds over 4,000 heritage buildings, including 130 officially recognized monuments. Among them, you’ll find around 60 religious sites — churches, convents, chapels, cloisters, and chapter houses. That’s why Quito has earned the nickname “the cloister of the Americas.” During the colonial era, the Spanish quickly understood the strategic and symbolic importance of Quito. They established a bishopric and a royal audience here, attracting influential religious and political figures. For centuries, Quito was the spiritual center of the country — and even today, the legacy of that period remains deeply visible. In 1987, the city was hit by another earthquake that caused significant damage to many of its historic buildings. In response, a heritage rescue fund was set up to help restore and protect Quito’s landmarks. New tourist routes were created to showcase the city’s cultural richness, and even some members of the municipal police were trained to serve as tour guides when needed. We won’t take you into every single church along the way — but if you pass one that has its doors open, don’t hesitate to take a peek inside. You never know what hidden beauty you might find.