The white building on the plaza’s northwest side with the national flag flying atop is the Palacio de Gobierno, the seat of the Ecuadorian presidency. When in residence, it's closed to visitors. At other times, sightseeing is allowed but limited to a couple of staterooms, possibly, the balcony for views over the plaza and a peek at Guayasamin's brilliantly hued mosaic depicting Francisco de Orellana's descent of the Amazon. On Monday, the changing of the guards takes place on the plaza at 11am.
