La Virgen

La Virgen - bird's eye view from Statue of La Virgen atop El Panecillo. This is undisputedly the best vantage point for getting a panoramic view of the beautiful town of Quito in Ecuador. Almost three centuries old, the stone sculpture of Virgin of Quito is visible from almost all nearby lanes and vantage points, making it to the likes of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. After reaching the old town of Quito, a taxi can be hired to reach El Panecillio hill on which this statue is located. Pan, in Spanish means bread; Panecillio means a small piece of bread. It would be ideal to strike a deal for somewhere around $6 with a taxi driver to take you back as well, because when it begins to rain (sometimes), you can get stuck there. However, it is not unusual to see families walking together and hiking up to the statue.

The observation deck has a queue of food trucks behind the statue that doubles up as a picnic stop for families. It is believed that Inca sun temple used to exist at the same spot where the statue of La Virgen, The Virgin or Madonna, stands tall now. A closer look at the statue reveals the Virgin standing on top of a globe and stepping on a snake, which is a typical Madonna iconography. According to locals, this is the only depiction of Virgin Mary in the world with wings spread like an angel. It is said to be made out of small aluminium pieces and around 7,000 pieces were required to put up this 45-m high monument. Technically, there is no opening and closing time as it is a hill-top, but it is advisable to descend after sunset. Many tourists and locals hang on till much later to get a starlit view of the city complete with street lighting before they bid goodbye.