The picturesque and diverse capital of Ecuador is located 27 kilometers from the Equator line. This aspect is one of the main qualities of the city of Quito, which attracts tourists from all over the globe. Also, this settlement is considered one of the "highest" in the world - the city is located at an altitude of 2850 meters above sea level, on the mountain volcanic slope of Pichincha. Despite the fact that the city has no access to the ocean bay, the wide and full-flowing river Guaillabamba flows through its territory.
The main attractions of Ecuador are concentrated in Quito. There are a lot of temples and monasteries in the capital, which belong to different eras. But all of them are centers of one religion - Catholicism. The churches are located in the southern part of the city, and in order to completely bypass all the architectural monuments of the area, it will take more than one day.
The main temple here is San Francisco, which was founded during the colonial period. Along with him, the temples of La Campania, San Agustin,Santo Domingo and others. A distinctive feature of all the sights of the capital can be considered an abundance of stucco and wall paintings - a similar artistic element is present in every temple and cultural institution.
Throughout its existence, the city belonged to various authorities, among which were mainly Spanish leaders. And before the capital of Ecuador was officially certified in the country's constitution, Quito was under the rule of Peru. In connection with such changes, local residents tried in every possible way to save their hometown. As a sign of this, a monument was erected in the form of a gigantic diva, who spread her wings over the city, protecting it from mythical dangers. Now this sculptural masterpiece is located on the main observation deck of the city - El Panecillo.
The capital of Ecuador boasts a variety and a large number of restaurants that offer their visitors a variety of cuisines. Among them there are establishments with Greek cuisine (Mosaic restaurant), as well as with Italian, American and Brazilian. The most popular fast food chain in Quito is El Español. But every tourist who comes to Ecuador should definitely taste the local cuisine, which is offered in all its colors in an institution called Hornado.
A large number of shopping and entertainment centers are located in the northern part of the city of Quito. Ecuador, in fact, is not the center of world shopping, however, in this areaany shopaholic will be able to console all his whims and buy things for several years to come. Also, the northern part of the city is considered to be a resort, since the majority of hotels were built here.
Now the capital of Ecuador is a large tourist center, which is of historical importance. A considerable number of historians and archaeologists who study this region live here. After all, each monument and temple, which are located on the streets of Quito, has its own mystery, which is not always easy and accessible to solve.
