San Diego Convent

Pichincha · Ecuador · Monastery

The figure of Christ in the convent is said to have addressed the carousing Father Almeida: 'How much longer, Father?'

The 17th-century San Diego convent in Quito is the stage for one of Ecuador's best-loved eerie legends. The young friar Almeida slipped out at night to the city's taverns by climbing over a great sculpture of the crucified Christ – until one night the figure turned to him and asked how much longer he meant to go on. 'Until I return, Lord,' the friar answered cheekily, and carried on carousing. Only when he met a funeral procession at dawn and saw his own corpse in the coffin did he fall to his knees and change his life forever. The convent and its cemetery rank among the most spirit-thick corners of old Quito.

FAQ

Where is San Diego Convent located?

San Diego Convent is in Pichincha, Ecuador.

More haunted places in Pichincha

• García Moreno Street (Street of the Seven Crosses) Pichincha · Urban site
• General Cemetery of Guayaquil Guayas · Cemetery

Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.