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The hill of El Panecillo rises above the south side of Quito’s UNESCO World Heritage listed historic city. It’s crowned by a large winged statue of the Virgin.
Getting There
There are steps from the old town up the hill, but it’s best to take a taxi. The walk up takes you through a dangerous area. Once at the top, you’ll find some of the best views of Quito.
The Statue
The Virgin of El Panecillo was built in 1976 by Spanish artist Agustín de la Herrán Matorras and is the tallest aluminum sculpture in the world. It stands 45 meters tall and made of 7,000 pieces of aluminum. It was inspired by the sculpture of the Virgin of Quito made by Ecuadorian sculptor Bernardo de Legarda in 1734. The original sculpture is inside the Church of San Francisco (Iglesia de San Francisco).
The figure of the Virgin stands on top of a globe and is stepping on a snake. It’s claimed that this is the only statue of the Virgin in the world with wings.
Inside the Statue
It’s possible to go inside the statue for a cost of US$1 (as of April 2024). There’s a small museum inside along with an even better view of the city.
Souvenirs
There are a few overpriced souvenir stands at the top of the hill as well.
