Arco de la circasiana

Beneath the gaze of La Circasiana Arch, a story unfolds. Arco de la circasiana isn’t just an arch. It’s a journey through time, a testament to artistry and a silent witness to Quito’s vibrant history. Originally, Arco de la circasiana graced the gardens of the Circasiana Palace, a grand estate belonging to the Jijón y Caamaño family. Commissioned around 1925 and completed before 1940, the arch was designed by sculptor Luis Antonio Mideros. Mideros drew inspiration from European triumphal arches, echoing the grandeur of Rome’s Arch of Constantine and Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Standing eight meters tall and nine meters wide, Arco de la circasiana captivated quiteños, who had only dreamed of such structures. For decades, it served as the main entrance to the palace gardens. In the 1980s, due to road expansions, the Jijón family gifted the arch to the city. Arco de la circasiana was meticulously disassembled, transported, and reassembled in El Ejido Park. Its first location in the park was at the intersection of Patria and 10 de Agosto avenues. Later, in 2000, it was moved to its current prominent position at the north end of Amazonas Avenue, now part of the Paseo del Sol. Remarkably, the second move was accomplished without dismantling the arch. It was transported whole to preserve its intricate structure. The arch, with its neoclassical pillars and central vault, is crowned by a frieze. This frieze, titled “The Farewell of the Centaurs,” depicts a mythological scene sculpted in andesite stone. The centaurs, half-man, half-horse, are portrayed in their courtship, abduction, and love affairs with nymphs. This allegory, sculpted in the figurative modernist style popular in the early 20th century, represents humanity’s two greatest passions: love and war. Today, Arco de la circasiana stands as a landmark at the intersection of Amazonas and Patria avenues, illuminated softly at night. It has become a gathering place for artists displaying their works, creating an open-air gallery. The arch also serves as a focal point for demonstrators marching towards the Carondelet Palace. Arco de la circasiana, more than a monument, is a living part of Quito’s story, a timeless echo of artistry and history.