|
The Winged Virgin of Quito
Symbol of the city of Quito.
The Winged Virgin of Quito is a monument which stands in
the centre of the city of Quito, on the little hill known as the
“Panecillo”, or bun.
It was sculpted by the Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán
Matamorras, and is made up of 7,000 pieces of aluminium. It
is considered to be the finest work in the world executed in this
material.
It is a replica of a small image of the Virgin by Bernardo de
Legarda in the 17th century.
It has stood on the Panecillo since 1976 and is 31 metres tall.
The figure can be seen from everywhere in the city.
Independence Monument
The monument was unveiled by president Eloy Alfaro on 10
August 1906.
It is in neo-Classical style and is dedicated to the patriots who
gained Ecuador’s independence on 10 August 1809.
Independence is represented by the laurel-crowned female
figure, who holds the consular fasces in one hand and a torch
in the other.
It stands in the Plaza de la Independencia opposite the
Government Palace. The current constitutional president of the
Republic of Ecuador is the economist Rafael Correa Delgado,
who is leading processes of people’s revolution and educational
initiatives to stimulate growth and development for the country
and a qualitative improvement in education.
The square is considered to be the heart of Quito and has been
the scene of a number of Ecuador’s historic events. |
|
