El Panecillo

El Panecillo Review

The opening of the New City's Teleferiqo has eclipsed this rounded hill (the bread roll) and its stunning views as Quito's most popular lookout point, but the presentation here is more serene and less carnival-like. At the top stands the monumental cast-aluminum statue of the city's protectress, the Virgin of Quito—a 1976 copy of Bernardo de Legarda's famous 18th-century sculpture Virgin of the Apocalypse of the Immaculate Conception, on display in the Iglesia de San Francisco. Muggers target tourists climbing the long flight of stairs, so hire a taxi to take you to the top—it's safe once you get up there—and wait for you as you enjoy the view and then to carry you safely back down (about $10 round-trip).