National Assembly

Quito


Between Parque Alameda and Parque El Ejido stands the National Assembly building, the equivalent of the Houses of Parliament or the Capitol Building. A huge frieze depicting the history of Ecuador spans the north side of the building. Book ahead for free guided tours in Spanish (8am Monday to Friday) that take in the debating chambers, session rooms and murals by Luis Mideros and Guayasamín.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Quito attractions

1. Parque La Alameda

0.25 MILES

Breaking up the New Town's sea of concrete and glass is this welcome splash of greenery, containing the Quito Observatory and a small boating lake. A few…

2. Quito Observatory

0.29 MILES

Opened by President García Moreno in 1864, this four-sided observatory is the oldest on the continent. It houses a museum of 19th-century pendulums,…

3. Parque El Ejido

0.29 MILES

Northeast of La Alameda, the pleasant, tree-filled Parque El Ejido is a popular spot for impromptu games of soccer and volleyball. The park teems with…

4. Museo Nacional

0.31 MILES

Located in the circular, glass-plated, landmark building of the Casa de la Cultura is one of the country’s largest collections of Ecuadorian art, with…

5. Museos Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana

0.33 MILES

Newly reopened following a full-scale makeover, Museos Casa de la Cultura encompasses three museums in a single bright, modern space. The expansive Museo…

6. Parque Itchimbia

0.58 MILES

Sitting high on a hill above the Old Town, this grassy park boasts magnificent views of the city, running and cycle tracks and a children's playground. It…

7. Centro de Arte Contemporáneo

0.58 MILES

Inside a beautifully restored former military hospital, this excellent museum showcases cutting-edge multimedia exhibits as well as top modern-art shows…

8. Basílica del Voto Nacional

0.6 MILES

On a hill in the northeastern part of the Old Town looms this massive Gothic church, Quito's largest, built over several decades beginning in 1892. Rather…