From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Quito is the capital city of Ecuador.
Located in a valley on the western slopes of Pichincha, an active volcano in the Andes mountains, its elevation of around 2850 meters (9300 feet) above sea level makes it one of the world's highest capital cities. Its population, according to the most recent census (2001), was 1,399,378.
More information to add:
- Size
- Geography
- Location
- Geographic landmarks
- People
- Culture
- History
- Pre-history
- Incas/Pre-Columbian
- Contact (with Europeans)
- European Conquest & Colonization
- Modern Era
History
On December 6, 1534, the city was founded by Sebastián de Benalcázar.
On May 24, 1822, a troop lead by Antonio José de Sucre defeated the Spanish resistance in the Battle of Pichincha securing the independence of Quito.
On February 12, 1949, a realistic broadcast of H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds panicked most of the residents. A mob set fire to the radio station and the offices of El Comercio, the capital's leading newspaper, killing twenty people. The property damage was estimated at $350,000. Three officials charged with responsibility for the broadcast were arrested.
Points of Interest
Panecillo
The Panecillo is a hill about halfway down the Quito valley, on which has been built a Madonna, standing on top of a globe and stepping on a snake, which of course is classic madonna iconography. What is not so traditional is that she has wings. The people of Quito proudly claim that she is the only one in the world with wings like an angel. Driving up to the Panecillo affords a wonderful view of the whole city.Museo del Banco Central
This museum is an excellent showcase of Ecuadorian art and culture. On the ground floor it has a marvellous and extensive collection of pre-colonial (including pre-Incaic) potteries, sculptures, gold, lithics, and even a mummified body. There are also some beautiful miniature reconstructions that help evoke the way various parts of Ecuador must have looked like, from the Pambamarca fort to the Cochasqui temple complex. The highlight of this collection is a golden sun mask of the La Tolita culture. The second floor is dedicated to Colonial art; several paintings and sculptures with religious themes are in exhibition. The third floor is devoted to contemporary Ecuadorian art.Old Town
The "centro histórico", historical center, as it is called, has many appealing plazas (the Independence Plaza being the most important) and baroque churches, including the Cathedral, the church of St. Francis, and the church of the Society of Jesus, or "La Compañía". There are also several museums, many of them dedicated to Colonial art and history; some of the most renowned are the City Museum ("Museo de la Ciudad"), the Metropolitan Cultural Center and the museum of the Convent of St. Francis. Markets are scattered throughout the area.
