Have you ever considered taking a vacation to the most amazing capital of Latin America?Discover why you definitely want to get to know Quito.
One of the world's first towns to become a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ecuador's capital has been flying under the travelers' radar for a long time. When we lived in the capital of Ecuador in the 1970s, we could never imagine that one day we would walk through the continent's most beautiful capital with all the historical alleys and monuments being gorgeously restored, peaceful and safe.
As Lima developed as the administrative center of the Southern colonies of the Spanish crown, Quito became the epicenter of religion with dozens of churches and monasteries, many of which somehow made it through significant temblors. But times were hard on Ecuador and many buildings had fallen in disarray, but with the UNESCO nomination, all historical buildings became full protected and now most buildings have returned to their old glory albeit with new functions, like cafs, hotels, museums or private homes. The wonderfully redesigned plazas and connecting historical strolls, are heavily protected by police and visitors of all ages pass casually through this peaceable heaven of colonial history, little shops, gorgeous residences many of which having been transformed into cafs and posadas (inns). What makes Ecuador's capital so special, is that it primarily frequented by its Ecuadorians. families play and picnic in the parks and the plazas. While there are tourists there numbers are not overpowering.
Whenever you go to Ecuador, please do yourself a favor and take at least 2 days to fall in love with this wonderfully restored city. If you like, you can take a half day's guided tour but after that, go out on your own, walk through the narrow streets, sample the restaurants, explore wonderfully illuminated the capital of Ecuador at night and mingle with the friendly Ecuadorians. They regard the colonial center of Quito or "Casco viejo" as the Quitenos call their old town, as their cultural heritage, the place that unites their rich history with the pleasures of twenty-first century.
Some of the nicest streets and squares are mainly for pedestrians and all of the old center can be best visited walking which really is the nicest way to enjoy the different plazas and monuments. The entire old city can be explored on foot in relatively brief strolls. When you feel tired, there are little cafs everywhere and prices are very economical.
With so many gorgeous old churches one can't name them all, but one really stands out: The Compania Church is the most beautiful and oldest colonial monument of Quito. The interior of the church is covered with real gold and is full of statutes and late medieval paintings. Arguably, it the could be considered the most stunning church of the Americas.
In 2008, Quito, the capital of Ecuador was highlighted in the travel section of the New York times, listing Quito, the capital of Ecuador as one of the 53 most interesting cities in the world for Americans to visit. Samantha Brown called Quito "Passport to Latin America" being the perfect place from where to initiate travel to discover Latin America. Since then, Quito has been highlighted in television programs of CBN and NBC, while many other magazines and newspapers have dedicated center fold sections to this previously undervalued most exquisite colonial capital of all the Americas.
It is not surprising that more and more tours start out in Ecuador's capital Quito to to then continue to destinations like Peru and other destinations that can be easily reached from Ecuador.
One of the world's first towns to become a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ecuador's capital has been flying under the travelers' radar for a long time. When we lived in the capital of Ecuador in the 1970s, we could never imagine that one day we would walk through the continent's most beautiful capital with all the historical alleys and monuments being gorgeously restored, peaceful and safe.
As Lima developed as the administrative center of the Southern colonies of the Spanish crown, Quito became the epicenter of religion with dozens of churches and monasteries, many of which somehow made it through significant temblors. But times were hard on Ecuador and many buildings had fallen in disarray, but with the UNESCO nomination, all historical buildings became full protected and now most buildings have returned to their old glory albeit with new functions, like cafs, hotels, museums or private homes. The wonderfully redesigned plazas and connecting historical strolls, are heavily protected by police and visitors of all ages pass casually through this peaceable heaven of colonial history, little shops, gorgeous residences many of which having been transformed into cafs and posadas (inns). What makes Ecuador's capital so special, is that it primarily frequented by its Ecuadorians. families play and picnic in the parks and the plazas. While there are tourists there numbers are not overpowering.
Whenever you go to Ecuador, please do yourself a favor and take at least 2 days to fall in love with this wonderfully restored city. If you like, you can take a half day's guided tour but after that, go out on your own, walk through the narrow streets, sample the restaurants, explore wonderfully illuminated the capital of Ecuador at night and mingle with the friendly Ecuadorians. They regard the colonial center of Quito or "Casco viejo" as the Quitenos call their old town, as their cultural heritage, the place that unites their rich history with the pleasures of twenty-first century.
Some of the nicest streets and squares are mainly for pedestrians and all of the old center can be best visited walking which really is the nicest way to enjoy the different plazas and monuments. The entire old city can be explored on foot in relatively brief strolls. When you feel tired, there are little cafs everywhere and prices are very economical.
With so many gorgeous old churches one can't name them all, but one really stands out: The Compania Church is the most beautiful and oldest colonial monument of Quito. The interior of the church is covered with real gold and is full of statutes and late medieval paintings. Arguably, it the could be considered the most stunning church of the Americas.
In 2008, Quito, the capital of Ecuador was highlighted in the travel section of the New York times, listing Quito, the capital of Ecuador as one of the 53 most interesting cities in the world for Americans to visit. Samantha Brown called Quito "Passport to Latin America" being the perfect place from where to initiate travel to discover Latin America. Since then, Quito has been highlighted in television programs of CBN and NBC, while many other magazines and newspapers have dedicated center fold sections to this previously undervalued most exquisite colonial capital of all the Americas.
It is not surprising that more and more tours start out in Ecuador's capital Quito to to then continue to destinations like Peru and other destinations that can be easily reached from Ecuador.
About the Author:
For about four decades, Wesly Vanderhill has lived in the Andes of Ecuador and he shares his knowledge and high resolution pictures about colonial buildings and other delightful places of Ecuador
EmoticonEmoticon