Grotesques on Basilica of the National Vow in Quito, Ecuador - Encircle Photos

29 Grotesques on Basilica of the National Vow in Quito, Ecuador

Many Gothic cathedrals, especially those from the Middle Ages, display mythical often ghoulish figures as drain spouts called gargoyles. The builders of the Basilica of the National Vow took a delightful twist to this architectural tradition. These decorative statues – called either grotesques or chimeras – feature animals endemic to Ecuador. Among the collection are iguanas, armadillos, alligators, blue-footed boobies, dolphins, pumas and Galápagos giant tortoises.

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Grotesques on Basilica of the National Vow in Quito, Ecuador

Carchi & Venezuela, San Juan, Quito 170130, Ecuador

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