One of the world's first cities to become a UNESCO World Heritage site, Quito has been flying under the travelers' radar for a long time. When we lived in Quito in the 1970s, we could never imagine that one day we would stroll through Latin America's most beautiful capital with all the historical streets and monuments being beautifully restored, peaceful and safe.
While Lima was the administrative center of the Spanish colonial empire in South America, Quito was the religious center with many cathedrals, churches and monasteries, most of which have survived the countless earthquakes and the general wear of the centuries. Now beautifully restored, Quito's monuments has architecturally marvelously designed plazas that are interconnected by romantic narrow streets, where people of all ages stroll unconcerned through this peaceful paradise of majestic monuments, local shops, tastefully restored and redesigned mansions that now serve as restaurants and colonial hotels. What I like so much about Quito is that it is a city dominated by its own people. Parents with their children play and picnic on the lawns and in the parks. Tourists are present but not in overwhelming numbers.
To fully enjoy Quito, you need 2 days just to get to know its highlights, much more if you ware into the details. It would probably be a good idea to take a half day's city to get oriented, but then you should go explore the city on your own, stroll through the narrow streets, discover a few restaurants, admire Quito at night when so many buildings are illuminated and enjoy the Quitenos who share there city with you. To them, old Quito or "Casco viejo" as Ecuadorians call old town, is a testimony to their history while uniting them with the pleasures of the 21st century.
Cars are banned from of the nicest streets and plazas, the colonial center can best be enjoyed on foot, as one hangs out on the different squares and visits the many monuments. All highlights are within walking distance and you can find many moderately priced little cafes everywhere when you feel tired.
There are dozens of historical churches, monasteries and chapels; too many to mention here. One we like to mention though as it is the most graceful of all: The Compania Church. Built in renaissance style. With its main ship interior being gold plated, is has a tremendous wealth of statutes and paintings from the earliest days of the colonization. To many this church is the most beautiful of Latin America.
In 2008, Quito was highlighted in the travel section of the New York times, listing Quito 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 beautiful colonial capital of all the Americas.
In fact, the most impressive destinations in Latin America starts with Ecuador, followed by Peru and the other Southern destinations, that can all conveniently be reached from Quito.
While Lima was the administrative center of the Spanish colonial empire in South America, Quito was the religious center with many cathedrals, churches and monasteries, most of which have survived the countless earthquakes and the general wear of the centuries. Now beautifully restored, Quito's monuments has architecturally marvelously designed plazas that are interconnected by romantic narrow streets, where people of all ages stroll unconcerned through this peaceful paradise of majestic monuments, local shops, tastefully restored and redesigned mansions that now serve as restaurants and colonial hotels. What I like so much about Quito is that it is a city dominated by its own people. Parents with their children play and picnic on the lawns and in the parks. Tourists are present but not in overwhelming numbers.
To fully enjoy Quito, you need 2 days just to get to know its highlights, much more if you ware into the details. It would probably be a good idea to take a half day's city to get oriented, but then you should go explore the city on your own, stroll through the narrow streets, discover a few restaurants, admire Quito at night when so many buildings are illuminated and enjoy the Quitenos who share there city with you. To them, old Quito or "Casco viejo" as Ecuadorians call old town, is a testimony to their history while uniting them with the pleasures of the 21st century.
Cars are banned from of the nicest streets and plazas, the colonial center can best be enjoyed on foot, as one hangs out on the different squares and visits the many monuments. All highlights are within walking distance and you can find many moderately priced little cafes everywhere when you feel tired.
There are dozens of historical churches, monasteries and chapels; too many to mention here. One we like to mention though as it is the most graceful of all: The Compania Church. Built in renaissance style. With its main ship interior being gold plated, is has a tremendous wealth of statutes and paintings from the earliest days of the colonization. To many this church is the most beautiful of Latin America.
In 2008, Quito was highlighted in the travel section of the New York times, listing Quito 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 beautiful colonial capital of all the Americas.
In fact, the most impressive destinations in Latin America starts with Ecuador, followed by Peru and the other Southern destinations, that can all conveniently be reached from Quito.
About the Author:
For almost 40 years, Wesly Vanderhill has lived in World Heritage Site Quito and he shares his knowledge and high resolution pictures about churches and monasteries and other delightful monuments of Ecuador
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