Discover the Carmelite heritage!
Convento del Carmen Bajo
Why locals love it
The monastery is located over the place where the Ecuadorian Saint Mariana de Jesus lived in the 17th century. Her family donated the house and the Barefoot Carmelites built the convent and church in 1653. For locals this is the birthplace of the first Ecuadorian Saint and second in Latin America after Santa Rosa de Lima, Peru.
Why you should visit it
The collection of paintings and sculptures of the Quito school dating back 17th and 18th centuries is stunning! The museum recreates the colonial ambiance of a cloistered nuns' convent. The courtyards, the stonework and the architecture itself are some of the highlights.
Special tip
Don't miss to admire the impressive Transit of the Virgin made in real size by Bernardo de Legarda in the 18th century.