What to see in Quito, where it is located, historical origins and interesting places to visit, with the main attractions not to be missed.
Tourist information
Capital of Ecuador, Quito is located in the center of a high valley in the Andean mountain range, at an altitude of 2,850 meters and at the foot of the Pichincha volcano, in the central northern part of the country.
To the north of the old city is the modern part of the city, where the inhabitants belonging to the wealthy class live, while in the southern part of the city, in conditions of poverty, most of the population lives.
The foundation of Quito dates back to the sixteenth century, when the Spanish Sebastian de Benalcazar entered the city of the Incas, on whose ruins the colonial city was built, which today is part of the cultural heritage of UNESCO's humanity, as the its historic center is considered one of the best preserved in Latin America, full of churches, convents, squares and buildings with particular architecture, including the monumental complex of the Church of San Francesco with the adjoining convent, a masterpiece of colonial architecture, the Basilica del Voto Nacional, visible from any corner of the city.
This imposing neo-Gothic church, built to commemorate the consecration of the state of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is adorned with gargoyles inspired by the country's wildlife, from the top of its main tower you can appreciate a beautiful panorama of the city and the mountains surrounding.
What see
The heart of Quito is Piazza Grande, also called Independence Square, overlooked by the Cathedral, the Archiepiscopal Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Carondelet Palace, seat of the government of the Republic of Ecuador.
Enrich the historic center, the Monastery of San Domenico and the church of the Society of Jesus, with the adjoining college, whose interiors are richly decorated with fascinating works in the European Baroque style, made by local artists and therefore also the result of their way to express oneself.
Florida and Rumipamba are among the most important archaeological sites, in Rumipamba, also declared an ecological park, traces of a pre-Inca civilization are preserved, while in Florida there are burials belonging to the Quitus culture.
In the Casa Museo Oswaldo Guayasamín, a great artist of Indian origin, in addition to his works, collections of pre-Columbian, colonial and contemporary art are exhibited, which he donated to the city of Quito.
The Banco Central Museum displays ancient finds dating from the fourth millennium BC. up to the Inca civilization.
The Casa del Alabado Museum displays ancient objects, pre-Columbian works of art, created by anonymous artists as well as testimonies of all the cultures that have inhabited the territory of Ecuador in the past five thousand years.
