IGLESIA Y CONVENTO DE LA MERCED

Built from 1559 in Moorish and Baroque style, this religious site (church and convent) was originally called San Juan de Letran. The convent protects a vast array of works of art from different periods. In the early days, the cloister's nuns were even entrusted with the care of Mariscal Sucre's remains. It contains sculptures by Bernardo de Legarda, including an ^18th-century altarpiece, as well as works by Miguel de Santiago, Goribar, oil paintings by Samaniego (colonial period) and other great artists. There are also works by ^19th-century artists such as Luis Cadena and Joaquin Pinto (Via crucis del Templo) and the Miracles of the Virgin de la Merced by painter Luis Mideros, produced in the first half of the ^20th century. The church's great tower preserves the remains of an Inca wall, although it has been rebuilt several times due to various earthquakes. Its library contains over 22,000 books! From the outside, an attractive dome stands out against the white wall of the enclosure. The beautiful stone fountain murmuring in the middle of the patio, amidst statues of the apostles, is also worth a mention. In the 1990s, the surrounding area was invaded by street vendors. In the early 2000s, during the term of mayor Paco Moncayo, the square was rehabilitated, to the great benefit of the city, as the splendor of the place was resurrected. The lighting at night is magnificent.