Shadowed by the palm trees the Independence Square is the very heart of the Old City of Quito.
Around the square are the sites of religious and political authorities, the powers that ruled Quito during Imperial period.
The Square is dominated by the building of La Catedral Metropolitana situated on the Southern side.
Opposite the cathedral there is the Archbishop’s Palace, and on the West the site of the government Presidential Palace.
The last late of the square is occupied by the new building of Municipal Palace, built in 1978 on the site of the former one, to damaged to be rebuilt.
The streets leading out of the Suare are recently labelled with the letters N S W E corresponding to the side of the world.
In the middle of the plaza there is the statue of Liberty made of bronze and marble.
[ photo : courtesy of exedu]