Quito boasts a new boutique hotel at emblematic square of its historic centre

Quito, September 2, 2011

The fascinating and unique charm of the emblematic Square of San Francisco, one of the major beacons of Quito, the capital of Ecuador’s history since Pre-Incan days, will have, since the present month of September, a new landmark feature: the luxurious Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel.
Located on the southern edge of the famous square, just feet away from the near five hundred year old imposing Church and Convent of San Francisco; Casa Gangotena is a newly restored aristocratic mansion, which will become one of the most exclusive and tempting lodging options for travelers who can now combine top-notch luxury and modern technology, with the unique ambiance of a Patrimonial Home, located in the heart of the “Old City”, which maintains its original architectonic style and a superbly classy interior design that blends to perfection the antique with the most sophisticated contemporary design.
The Hotel boasts 31 superior rooms, beautifully decorated and equipped not only to satisfy but to truly impress the most demanding of voyagers. Each room is beautifully furnished with ample spaces, elegant amenities, state-of-the-art technology and, of course, impressively appointed private bathrooms. Thirteen of the rooms have king-size beds while the remaining eighteen have twin beds. Two of the king-sized bedrooms are classified as Balcony Junior Suites; while some of the double rooms inter connect to be used as suites for families.
The Hotel’s restoration is a work of art by itself. The efforts to preserve and restore the mansion’s original architecture and interior details have resulted in a harmonious mix of classic and modern, ranging from its Neo-Classical external architecture, to some of its Art Noveau and contemporary interior details. The tall windows allow for fabulous views of the historic square, the famous Panecillo Hill, the Pichincha Volcano or the domes and church towers of Quito’s glorious, World Heritage Site Historic Centre. Additional features are the classic inner courtyard; an ample terrace on the third floor; the glass-roofed patio; a patio-garden planted with orchids and a colorful display of local flowers. A well-stocked Library is a fine venue for quiet relaxation, whilst, on the ground floor, the chic Restaurant offers the best of national and international cuisine, served in grand style within a setting of stunning antique and modern décor.
San Francisco Square is rich in centuries of history and is acknowledged as the location where the Palace of the last of the Inca rulers, Atahualpa, stood. The cobble-stoned Plaza is the venue for many of the city’s most important events, like the awe-inspiring and massive Easter procession. An added value to this new property is the fact that it becomes the perfect place to explore the magic corners of Quito’s Colonial Center and some of its most amazing churches, convents, museums, the old and narrow, balcony-lined streets and to get a perfect immersion, day and night, of Quito’s most famous area, the first World Cultural Heritage Site, so declared by UNESCO in 1978. From the Hotel, everything is a very short distance away.
Thus, the historic capital of Ecuador offers now a new and spectacular alternative for classy lodging at one of the city’s premiere locations. Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel is owned and operated by Metropolitan Touring, the widely respected and recognized Ecuadorian tour operating pioneer company, proudly the partner of Adventure Associates in Ecuador. Complying with the owners’ policies to promote and enforce sustainable tourism and good practices, the property features solar panels to reduce energy consumption; electronic room keys and all the elements to collaborate with a clean environment. Casa Gangotena also sponsors and patronizes a number of social programs with the local communities, sharing the neighboring quarters.