Panecillo Virgin Statue Travel Guide

El Panecillo is a hill with an average altitude of over 200 meters, formed by loess soil, located between the southern and central parts of Quito, Ecuador. The highest point of the hill reaches an altitude of 3016 meters; according to the Jesuit historian Juan de Velasco, there used to be a Sun Temple built by the indigenous people on the summit of El Panecillo, which was later destroyed by Spanish invaders. In 1976, a religious organization commissioned a Spanish artist to build a 45-meter-tall statue of the Virgin Mary on the summit! The inauguration ceremony for the Virgin statue was held on March 18, 1976, by the 11th Archbishop of Quito; the statue of the Virgin was designed and built by the people of Quito; it is hailed as a symbol of the struggle for independence and freedom in Quito! After visiting the Vow's Cathedral coming from the subway through the old town, you arrive at the foot of Panecillo. It takes about ten minutes to walk to the steps leading up to the hill, with over 800 steps to reach the foot of the Virgin statue. Alternatively, you can take a car up the winding road to the top of the hill, where various service facilities are available, along with a green area on the summit. From the top of Panecillo, you can overlook the entire old town of Quito, which is incredibly impressive and spectacular!