Basílica del Voto Nacional — Attraction in San Juan

Basílica del Voto Nacional is a Roman Catholic church located in the historic center of Quito, Ecuador. It is the largest neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas. The basilica arose from the idea, proposed by father Julio Matovelle in 1883, of building a monument as a perpetual reminder of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart. President Luis Cordero issued the decree on July 23, 1883, and it was carried out by president José María Plácido Caamaño on March 5, 1884. The congress, in accordance with the year's budget, designated 12,000 pesos for the construction - 1,000 pesos per month, beginning in 1884. By the decree of July 3, 1885, the fourth Quitense Provincial Council turned the construction of the basilica into a religious commitment in the name of the country. In 1887, the Issodum Fathers began construction for five years, with the approval of Pope Leo XIII. The Oblato fathers donated the land for the basilica. To continue construction, donations were accepted from believers, who provided stones in exchange for engraving their names on them. In 1895, the state established a tax on salt to continue the building.

In 1901, Father Matovelle and his Community of Missionary Monks, took charge of the construction at the request of Archbishop Pedro Rafael González Calisto. The building was designed by architect Emilio Tarlier at the cost of 40,000 French francs. Tarlier was inspired by the Bourges Cathedral. On July 10, 1892, the first stone was placed. Between 1892 and 1909, the Heart of Mary Cathedral was constructed. The basilica was blessed by Pope John Paul II on January 30, 1985, and it was consecrated and inaugurated on July 12, 1988.

The basilica remains technically "unfinished." Local legend says that when the Basílica is completed, the end of the...

When my local friends suggested that we visit this basilica, I was skeptical thinking that like all other historical churches in other countries, you are only allow to explore a very limited number of areas; like the sanctuary.

However, for a $2 entrance fee, you can easily get lost (in a fun way) exploring the clock towers, get behind the clock faces, cross narrow wooden bridge adjoining towers, and even climb up to the top of the spire!

This basilica is laid out very well for visitors to appreciate the intricacy of the neo-gothic style architecture and get a breathe-taking 360 degree view of the city. I recommend taking the stairs and get some exercise in as you ascent the basilica and stop to simply soak in the beauty and majesty of the stained glasswork.

Continue on to the first tower giving you the first panoramic view of the surrounding and the spire. Continue on to the clock tower and get a peak behind the clock faces. You can go a little higher from there or go through the souvenir shop to find a wooden bridge connecting you to the spire.

Walking across the narrow wooden bridge can be quite an experience as you are walking through a dark passage way above the roof of the basilica, dimly lit by the small windows above you. Once you made it through to the spire, there are several steep and narrow stairs to climb.

The one leading to the spire can be quite exhilarating as the stairway is very steep and besides the handrail, you can see all around you. Not for someone who has a fear of heights. The climb to the landing area is worth the while though.

After all the exploration, you can get a bite at a restaurant built within the basilica. The tall ceiling and tall windows give you a nice view of the mountain and a good place to sit down and...

This building is one of the most amazing churches I've visited in some time. It has twin towers with clocks with striking blue numbers, and an incredible spire in the centre of the other end. It's neo gothic architecture is beautiful from the outside. Where other churches have gargoyles on the roof, this one has a wide variety of real world animals, such as turtles, tortoises, goats, llamas, sea creatures and others... and winged gargoyles too. It's interior is also beautiful, with high vaulted ceilings, domes, and wonderful stained glass windows. But the best thing about this church is that for a modest $2 entry fee, you can ascend the two towers and the incredible spire. There is a lift to get you to the 2nd or 3rd floors, but from there, you have several more floors to ascend by stairs. On the 10th floor, there is a path between the two towers and also a walkway under the roof to the spire. The views of Quito from the towers are amazing, but for the perfect photo, you need to be brave and climb 2 sets of incredibly steep stairs to get to the top of the spire. From here, the views are even better, but the best view from there is of the two towers, with the mountain El Panecillo in between them in the background, with the Angel of Quito sitting on top. But beware, if you have a fear of heights, as I do, it takes a lot of courage to climb these steep steps. I saw many people start the ascent, only to turn back soon after. But in my opinion, despite my fear, it was well worth it and the best thing that I...