Mount Panesillo

In 1470, the Incas captured Quito and made it the capital of the kingdom. Then, in the 30s of the sixteenth century, this territory was conquered by the Spaniards, the settlement was destroyed, and in its place a city with the same name was built, which after some time became the capital of Ecuador.

In 1979, UNESCO declared Quito a cultural monument and a “patrimony of humanity”. The city has many ancient buildings and churches, museums and architectural monuments. However, in addition to man-made attractions, there are also amazing places created by man together with nature. And one of those places, of course, is Mount Panesillo.

From anywhere in the city you can see a huge statue of the Virgin Mary, located on the top of this mountain, at an altitude of 3016 meters above sea level. The 41-meter figure was made by Spanish artist Agustin de la Herran Matorras in 1976. 7 thousand sheets of aluminum were used for the manufacture of this monumental structure. The Virgin Mary stands on the globe and tramples it with her feet. The characteristic feature of the sculpture is that it is winged, which is not the case in traditional images of the Mother of God.

From the observation deck of the monument offers a stunning view of the city.