San Agustin Convent

The construction of the San Agustin convent began in 1580 with plans by architect Francisco Becerra and was completed in 1650 by architect Juan Corral. The convent has in its interior a series of corridors composed by 9 Tuscan columns of Doric capital, 2 pilasters and 10 semicircular or peralted arches. In each wall there is a gallery where 39 canvases narrating the Life of San Agustín, work of the master Miguel de Santiago, can be observed. The Eastern corridor has a Mudejar style ceiling. The convent has a single colonial style garden with a central basin.The Chapter House is located in the eastern corridor, it is the largest room of the convent, it is 22.5 m. long, 7 m. wide and 6 m. high. It was used as the Aula Magna of the University of San Fulgencio (the first of the Kingdom of Quito). In August 1809 the Act of National Independence was signed in it.