Capilla del Hombre

Oswaldo Guayasamin, the best-known Ecuadorian painter of the twentieth century, conceived the Capilla del Hombre as a secular chapel to the suffering and endurance of Latin America's people, and it was completed in 2002, three years after his death, on the hill of Bellavista above Quito: a monumental cube of concrete and stone around a central space where his largest canvases hang, images of hands, faces, mothers and victims in his heavy expressionist manner, with an eternal flame below for the victims of violence. His house and studio next door are kept as he left them, with his collections of colonial and pre-Columbian art, and the two together make the essential Guayasamin visit. The terrace looks over the city he painted.

What to look for

• The central hall of great canvases - hands, faces and mothers at full scale.
• The eternal flame - the memorial at the chapel's heart.
• Guayasamin's house and studio - kept as he left them next door.
• His pre-Columbian collection - the objects that fed his work.

When to go

Year round. Two to three hours for the chapel and house together. Guided visits run through the day and add a great deal. Closed Mondays.

Practical notes

The work is heavy and political and does not suit every taste. The house is seen on a guided schedule. It is uphill from the centre and needs a taxi. Combined tickets and tour times need a little planning.

Nearby

Quito old town is below; the TeleferiQo lies west.

Key facts