A cathedral with an interior entirely encased in 23 carat gold leaf is like a dream fantasy about some mythical kingdom. But in fact the La Compania Cathedral, just off the central Plaza Grande in Quito was built by the Jesuits starting in 1605. It took 160 years to build and is truly awe inspiring. Along the semi-circular arches in the nave are bas-relief painting depicting Biblical stories including Samson and Delilah and the story of Joseph. There are also two huge paintings on either side of the entrance: one a Dante-esque one depicting Hell t showing every possible sin available to humankind and The Last Judgement showing people being divided between Heaven and Hell. The main gold alterpiece and the huge octagonal dome are also covered in gold leaf interspersed with deep scarlet and azure figures. Angels and cherubs too numerous to count adorn the space.
I spent a lot of time just contemplating and meditating in this incredible space.
The Cathedral sounds awesome. Quito sounds like a very nice place. It is not too primitive is it?
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