Quito Important Data

We have brought a series of data about Quito - Ecuador that you have to know, know here its historical, geographical, curious data of the Carita de Dios.(God´s little face)

Curiosities of Quito

Quito is the capital of Ecuador, is located at the foot of the Pichincha volcano, surrounded by mountainous elevations that give it its Andean landscape and culture, its full name is San Francisco de Quito, named by UNESCO in 1978 as Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This metropolis, lives on ravines, one of its main characteristics is that it has very well preserved its particular colonial architecture, as well as its rich culture and natural wealth. Know here some data of Quito Ecuador.

Quito historical data

These are the most relevant historical data of Quito:

• Archaeological traces speak about pre-Inca cultures origin and life in Quito, there are archaeological records from 1030 BC, which correspond to nomads who hunted, fished and lived in a place known as the Inga.
• Located in the Spanish conquest, a curious fact is that what would cause the foundation of San Francisco de Quito would be some rumors that emerged after the death of Atahualpa, which referred to a treasure that the Inca monarch left in the territories of Quito, and that is why the Spaniards located Quito as their territory, in order to search for this treasure and, at the end, gradually, they ended up the Tahuantinsuyo´s political and religious system.
• In fact, Quito was founded on the ashes of a city burned by General Rumiñahui, who burned the Inca site before the Spaniards arrival with the purpose of leaving nothing that the conquerors could use.
• At the time of independence, Quito was the first city to give the first cry for independence that motivated the entire region to begin or strengthen the libertarian processes, which would mean a political and administrative change of the Spanish colony.
• Quito is the only city in South America that still maintains many of the colonial structures in its historic center and they are almost intact, this is one of the reasons why in 1978 it became the first World Heritage City.
• Other titles that the city holds are: in 2011 it was declared Capital of the American culture, in the same way it has won the World Travel Award many times. This is an award that is given to the best tourist destinations in the world.

Curious facts about Quito

These are the 10 curiosities of Quito:

• Quito is the oldest capital in South America, The exact date of its creation is not known. That´s why, the City Spanish conquest in 1534 is taken as its date of birth; In the nineteenth century the Republic of Ecuador was founded after separating from Gran Colombia and established its capital in Quito.
• The historic center of Quito is the largest and very well preserved of all the historic centers of the countries of America. It is possible that for that reason Quito became the first city named by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of humanity. This great recognition he shared with Krakow. What was taken into account for the delivery of such an award is its "physical beauty, its traditions, its corners of mysticism and its legends in force."
• Quito is the highest capital in South America, located 2,850 meters high. Of course, the city of La Paz in Bolivia is the highest in South America, however it is not the capital of that country, its capital is Sucre.
• It is said that Quito has the most pleasant temperature in the world, around 20 degrees during most of the year. It has even been called "land of eternal spring."
  Did you know that Quito has seven wonders? Of course, these are:

• Company of Jesus Church

• San Francisco Covent
• Virgen del Quinche Church
• Chimbacalle railway station
• Plaza Grande or Independence Square
• El Panecillo Virgin
• Basilica of the National Vow

• Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador. The first is Guayaquil.
  The gargoyles of the Basilica of the National Vow represent the particular fauna of Ecuador. You can find alligators, howler monkeys, giant Galapagos turtles, blue-footed boobies, pumas or armadillos.
• One of the nicknames Quito is known for is "the Little Face of God."
  The Virgen del Panecillo or Quito’s Virgin is the only virgin in the world with wings. This statue divides the north and south of Quito.
• Francisco de Orellana left Quito to search for Atahualpa's treasure, which he never actually found, neither he nor anyone (there are too many theories and legends about the gold of the Incas). However, the Spaniard does appear in history books as the discoverer of the Amazon River.

Quito Geographic Data

These are the geographical data of Quito:

• The Ecuadorian capital Quito is located on the valley of Quito, which in turn is part of the pit of the Guayllabamba River, right on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, in the Western Andes.
• Its average altitude is 2800 masl
• Its limits are: the Casitagua volcano to the north, the geological fault Falla de Quito-Ilumbisi or Falla de Quito, to the east, the Pichincha skirts, and by the Atacazo Volcano to the south.
• Its dimensions are 50 km long south - north and 8 km wide east - west.

Other tourist places in Quito that may interest you

• Calle de las siete cruces (Seven Crosses Street)
• La Ronda
• Cableway
• La Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World)
• Botanical Garden
• Museums
• Churches
• Geobotanical Reserve of Pululahua
• Tumbaco Central Park
• Foch Square
• La Carolina Park
• VulQano Park
• Rucu Pichincha volcano
• Guagua Pichincha Volcano
• Metropolitan park