Casa Gangotena occupies a pivotal spot in Quito’s Old Town: the southwest corner of San Francisco Plaza, the history of which dates all the way back to the time of the Incas. According to early Spanish chroniclers, the plaza remained surrounded by temples and palaces during the 15th century, with one temple having sat right where Casa Gangotena now stands today. The importance of the San Francisco Plaza throughout the Colonial period and the following centuries led several wealthy families to build their homes around it. The Gangotena's — one of the capital’s leading families — whose members have consisted of important industrialists, politicians, landowners, academics and even poets build this as their stately home in 1924. Today this historic mansion houses a world class boutique hotel owned and operated by Relais & Chateaux.
Be sure to head up to the third-floor terrace and enjoy unrivaled views of the majestic mountains and volcanoes, as you reflect on the profound and historical significance of the San Francisco Plaza along with its surrounding churches and neighborhoods!
