Quito, Ecuador!South America's most vibrant cities.

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a striking blend of ancient cultures and architecture. The city was founded in 1534 by the Spanish conquistador Sebastian de Benalcazar on the site of an ancient Inca city. The city became an important center of colonial administration and cultural center of the Spanish Empire in South America.

Quito is located 2,850 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest capitals in the world. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has retained the richest and least altered historic center in Latin America. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique architecture and history.

One of Quito's main treasures is the “Baroque School of Quito,” a unique artistic movement that combined elements of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. Fine examples of this style can be seen in the convents of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, as well as in the church and Jesuit college of La Compañía. Their ornate interiors impress with exquisite details, bright colors, and sumptuous gilding.
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a striking blend of ancient cultures and architecture. The city was founded in 1534 by the Spanish conquistador Sebastian de Benalcazar on the site of an ancient Inca city. The city became an important center of colonial administration and cultural center of the Spanish Empire in South America.

Quito is located 2,850 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest capitals in the world. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has retained the richest and least altered historic center in Latin America. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique architecture and history.

One of Quito's main treasures is the “Baroque School of Quito,” a unique artistic movement that combined elements of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art. Fine examples of this style can be seen in the convents of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, as well as in the church and Jesuit college of La Compañía. Their ornate interiors impress with exquisite details, bright colors, and sumptuous gilding.
The colonial conquerors who arrived in the 16th century demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt their artistic style to local conditions. They built their structures, taking into account the peculiarities of the local topography, while creating architectural ensembles with amazing stylistic and volumetric harmony.

The city center retained a layout based on the original grid pattern typical of many Latin American cities of the colonization period. Main and secondary squares and streets oriented along the cardinal points of the compass create a city structure that has remained unchanged over the centuries.
The colonial conquerors who arrived in the sixteenth century demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt their artistic style to local conditions. They built their structures, taking into account the peculiarities of the local topography, while creating architectural ensembles with remarkable stylistic and volumetric harmony.

The city center retained a layout based on the original grid pattern typical of many Latin American cities of the colonization period. Main and secondary squares and streets oriented along the cardinal points of the compass create a city structure that has remained unchanged over the centuries.
Quito's first plan was drawn up in 1734 by Dionisio Alcedo y Herrera, and its street network, neighborhoods and plazas remain largely unchanged to this day. This is unique for Latin American cities, where many historic centers have undergone significant changes.

Quito has experienced numerous earthquakes throughout its history, but thanks to the concerted efforts of the municipal authorities of the Quito Metropolitan District and the Ecuadorian government, the historic center of the city has remained one of the most intact in the region.