The most fascinating part of the Basílica del Voto Nacional was the façade, which was graced with dozens of grotesques. Similar to gargoyles, these stone adornments take the form of South American wildlife, such as llamas, iguanas, giant tortoises, jaguars, and armadillos.

I walked all around the basilica, trying to identify all of the different grotesques, which were protruding from the sides of the building at various levels. Most were quite easy to recognize, but I think some of them may have been mythical creatures. My favorite ones were the birds of the Galápagos Islands, the blue-footed booby, the frigatebird, and the penguin.