San Francisco Basilica (Quito)
The Basilica San Francisco ( Spanish Basílica de San Francisco ) is the most important part of the Franciscan Monastery of El San Francisco in Quito , the capital of Ecuador . The complex on Plaza de San Francisco in the center of the city dates back to the 16th century and, with its imposing structure, is the largest architectural ensemble among the historical structures of colonial Latin America . As part of the old town of Quito , it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The basilica belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quito and bears the title of a minor basilica . The baroque church houses the pilgrimage destination of the Virgin of Quito, created in 1734.
history
With the support of European Franciscans, the Flemish Father Joost de Rijcke, known in Spanish as Jodoco Ricke, and Father Pedro Gosseal, who arrived in the city two years after it was founded, acquired land on the west side of the city's main square. The palace of the Inca ruler Atahualpa (1497–1533), which burned down before the conquest of the city, was originally located on this property . In addition to being a market center for indigenous Ecuadorians, it was also the seat of the military headquarters of the chiefs of the indigenous armies. This made the place of enormous importance for the indigenous people who wanted to evangelize the Franciscans.
Construction of the monastery began in 1537, only a few years after the city was founded in 1534. The architects are only partially known, the plans could also come from Europe. Jorge de la Cruz Mitima and his son Francisco Morocho worked at the church. The church was completed around 1680. By earthquakes that broke in 1755 Mudejar - coffered ceilings and 1868, the tips of the spiers collapsed.
1965 awarded Pope Paul VI. the church has the rank of a minor basilica. In 1978 the church was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of Quito's Old Town. In 1985 Pope John Paul II visited the basilica, as did Pope Francis in 2015 . The church underwent extensive renovations between 2000 and 2010.
architecture
The very special style of the church developed during the 150 years of construction (1534–1680) from a mixture of Spanish and indigenous elements, and was triggered by architectural developments and the reconstruction after earthquakes.
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The facade of the main church reflects Mannerist elements for the first time in South America, which later became a reference point for this style in the rest of the continent. The strict Renaissance and Mannerist exterior of the building contrast with the interior decorations of the church, in which Mudejar and Baroque elements bathe the nave, chapels and high altar in an exotic golden splendor. The structure of the church corresponds to a three-aisled basilica in the form of a Latin cross. In its nave and aisles, the Church of San Francisco unveils its Mudejar coffered ceilings, considered the first of its kind. In the choir, which originally dates from the end of the 16th century, the Mudejar details have been completely preserved, although the central nave collapsed in an earthquake and was replaced by a Baroque coffered ceiling in 1770. Around the central nave there are eight elaborately decorated altars in different styles. Numerous paintings of saints from the Quito School adorn the walls. The carved cedar choir stalls are decorated with 81 figures, one for each seat.
The richly carved gilded high altar in the apse is also made of cedar and is adorned with numerous colored figures, including some that are described as the maximum expression of the Quito sculpture. The most famous sculpture of the church is the "Virgin of Quito" in the center of the high altar, who is considered the patron saint of the city. It was created by Bernardo de Legarda in the 18th century.
Cloister of the monastery with a view of the church towers
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Basílica de San Francisco on gcatholic.org
- ↑ a b Church and Convent of St. Francis (English)
- ↑ a b c d Iglesia de San Francisco (Spanish)
Coordinates: 0 ° 13 ′ 13 ″ S , 78 ° 30 ′ 56 ″ W.