La Iglesia de San Francisco es una basílica católica que se levanta en medio del centro histórico de Quito, frente a la plaza del mismo nombre.
La estructura es el conjunto arquitectónico de mayor dimensión dentro de los centros históricos de toda América,​ y por ello es conocido como el "Escorial del Nuevo Mundo".​

Sobre sus tres hectáreas y media de superficie se han construido trece claustros (seis de ellos de gran magnitud), tres iglesias, un gran atrio, sumando aproximadamente cuarenta mil metros cuadrados de edificación. Allí se desarrollan múltiples actividades en la actualidad: las conventuales y religiosas, de atención pública en las áreas de salud, de comunicación, educativas y otras de corte popular que mantienen activo al edificio.​

Dentro de la iglesia se encuentran más de 3.500 obras de arte colonial, de múltiples manifestaciones artísticas y variadas técnicas, especialmente aquellas correspondientes a la Escuela Quiteña de Arte, que nació precisamente en este lugar.
Posee también una biblioteca franciscana, descrita en el siglo XVII como la mejor del Virreinato del Perú.​

Al conjunto le precede una plaza homónima que durante años abasteció a la ciudad de agua de su fuente central, y que ha funcionado como mercado popular, como espacio de concentraciones militares y políticas, y como lugar de encuentro y recreación social. La escalera cóncavo-convexa que comunica la plaza con el atrio, que resalta la fachada manierista-barroca del templo mayor, es considerada de gran importancia arquitectónica.​

En sus tres naves, San Francisco devela artesonados moriscos con lazos mudéjares, retablos profusamente decorados y columnas de diversos estilos. En el coro, la decoración mudéjar, original de finales del siglo XVI, se conserva íntegra porque la nave central se vino abajo con un terremoto y fue reemplazado por un artesonado barroco en 1770. Cielos mudéjares en los extremos, barrocos en la nave central, retablos llenos de imágenes, mascarones y querubines mirando al centro del Altar Mayor.


The Church of San Francisco is a Catholic basilica that stands in the middle of the historic center of Quito, in front of the square of the same name.
The structure is the largest architectural complex within the historic centers of all America, and for this reason it is known as the "Escorial of the New World."

On its three and a half hectares of surface area, thirteen cloisters have been built (six of them large), three churches, a large atrium, totaling approximately forty thousand square meters of building. Multiple activities are currently carried out there: conventual and religious, public attention in the areas of health, communication, education and others of a popular nature that keep the building active.

Inside the church there are more than 3,500 works of colonial art, of multiple artistic manifestations and varied techniques, especially those corresponding to the Quito School of art, which was born precisely in this place.
It also has a Franciscan library, described in the 17th century as the best in the Viceroyalty of Peru.

The complex is preceded by a plaza of the same name that for years supplied the city with water from its central fountain, and which has functioned as a popular market, as a space for military and political gatherings, and as a place for social gathering and recreation. The concave-convex staircase that connects the plaza with the atrium, which highlights the mannerist-baroque façade of the main temple, is considered of great architectural importance.

In its three naves, San Francisco reveals Moorish coffered ceilings with Mudejar ties, profusely decorated altarpieces and columns of various styles. In the choir, the Mudejar decoration, original from the end of the 16th century, is preserved intact because the central nave collapsed in an earthquake and was replaced by a Baroque coffered ceiling in 1770. Mudejar ceilings at the ends, Baroque in the central nave, altarpieces full of images, masks and cherubs looking towards the centre of the High Altar.

Tags:   QUITO ECUADOR CONVENTO CONVENTO DE SAN FRANCISCO

© All Rights Reserved

Birches in the winter mist

Tags:   Geesthacht Herzogtum Lauenburg Schleswig Holstein SW Schwarz/weiss Black and White B&W monochrom einfarbig Hamburger Fotofreaks Fotobuddys Sony ILCE-6700 ILCE-6700 Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary 021

© All Rights Reserved

Locomotive 6225 Duchess of Gloucester at Carlisle Station on the 'down'' Midday Scot on 2.8.1939. Ten of this class were streamlined but by 1948 had the streamline casing removed.

Photo purchased at the Kidderminster Photo Fair and cleaned up in Lightroom..

Copyright W D Cooper

Tags:   Black and White b/w Railways CoronationClass PhotoFair PurchasedImage

© All Rights Reserved

Tags:   Sonnenaufgang Sunrise Alba Lever de soleil Bayern Bavaria Deutschland Germany Rottachsee See Lake Lago Lac Water Himmel Sky Ciel Cielo Colours Colors Colori Couleurs Farben Morgenhimmel Morningsky outside national Amanecer

© All Rights Reserved