Famous Monasteries and Churches
The Viceroyalty of Peru with it the Spanish Royal representative in Lima, Peru was well know for its wealth and power which is well represented in its Spanish Colonial era Monasteries and religious houses. However, in the 17th Century Spain created the lesser known Real Audencia of Quito (current day Ecuador plus parts of Peru, Brazil, and Colombia) and Nueva Grenada (current day Colombia and Venezuela) to function with the Vice Royalty in Lima. Spain designated Lima as the highest level of government representation for the Spanish Crown, Caracas (Venezuela) as the Military compound, Bogotá (Colombia) as the educational centre and Quito (Ecuador) as the religious foundation for South America. It was in Quito that religious would study and train before heading out to evangelize the native populations. Thus to this day, one will find in Spanish Colonial Quito alone more than 26 Monasteries and Churches dating from the 16th Century (and still in operation) representing all of the old traditional religious orders. To this day Quito is known as the “Rome of Latin America” with its unique blend of Vatican influence of traditional religious establishments and the indigenous imperial remembrances of the Incas. The grandness, architecture, and treasures of these religious establishments in both Lima and Quito are undeniably the most impressive outside of Europe.

What you can experience…..
Learn more about these impressive houses of the Church……..