Just
7km southeast
of Guayllabamba,
El Quinche
is famous
for its enormous
church that's
as large as
the monasteries
and cathedrals
in colonial
Quito.
Grand as the
building is,
for pilgrims
its most important
feature is
the wooden
image of El
Virgen del
Quinche,
carved at
the end of
the sixteenth
century by
artist and
architect
Diego de Robles.
Ever since
de Robles
was saved
from tumbling
hundreds of
feet into
the Rio Oyacachi
by a thorn
snagging on
his clothes,
the Virgin
has been believed
responsible
for countless
other miracles,
depicted in
paintings
inside the
church. Pilgrims
make their
way from across
the country
to venerate
the Virgin,
especially
during the
festival in
the third
week of November,
climaxing
on November
21. Throngs
of people
receive blessings
all year round
for everything
from newborn
babies to
a newly bought
taxi.
Getting
there
Regular
buses
to El Quinche
leave Quito
from Avenida
America and
Colon, taking
about an hour
and twenty
minutes to
get there.
Last
updated 13th
July 2006
