Sight
El Panecillo
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El Panecillo is a 200-metre-high volcanic hill in Quito, rising to 3,016 metres above sea level. At its top stands the 45-metre-tall aluminium statue of the Virgin of El Panecillo, visible from most points in the city. The hill offers a vantage point over the city, and the statue itself is a notable landmark.
Don't miss
- The 45-metre-tall aluminium statue of the Virgin of El Panecillo, made of seven thousand pieces of aluminium and inaugurated in 1975.
- The statue stands on a globe and steps on a snake, with wings that locals say make it the only winged Virgin Mary in the world.
- The monument was inspired by the 'Virgen de Quito' (also known as 'the dancer'), a 1734 sculpture by Bernardo de Legarda that marks a turning point in the Quito School of Art.
- A bronze placard identifies the statue as the Woman of the Apocalypse from the Book of Revelation (12:1–17).
- Views of Quito from the hilltop, as the statue can be seen from most points in the city.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit El Panecillo
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inQuito Old Town Free Walking tour Small group English guide Cacao5★ · 61 travelers2-3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$5 per personSee dates →
Best full dayCotopaxi Full-Day from Quito Including Entrances4.9★ · 1,491 travelers~12 hoursFree cancellationFrom$59 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleLet me show you Quito! Complete Private City Tour5★ · 54 travelers8-10 hoursFree cancellationFrom$77 per personSee dates →Getting there
A bit of history
The hill's original name was Yavirac, used by Quito's aboriginal inhabitants. The street leading up to El Panecillo is named after Melchor Aymerich.
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