Quito is known for the treasures of its colonial churches, paintings, sculptures, and carvings. The Spanish colonial period extends from the XVI to the XVIII century, Ecuadorian colonial art combines the European and Baroque Renaissance with indigenous and mestizo influences.
With the arrival of the Spanish, the Roman Catholic Church became the center of teaching religion and patterns of art. As part of the acculturation of indigenous peoples, the Spanish established art and sculpture schools, where Spanish artists trained the indigenous population in the arts. As a result, the Escuela Quiteña became famous in Latin America for its talented artists, such as Bernardo de Legarda and indigenous artists such as Caspicara and Pampite. Other prominent members of the art school were Miguel de Santiago, Javier de Goríbar, Samaniego and Father Manuel Bedoya. Contributions to colonial art were considered one of the most valuable in America, which is why Quito was declared by UNESCO as a "World Heritage Site" in 1978.
However, the history of Quito extends far beyond the arrival of the Spanish. Before the Spanish Sebastián de Benalcázar conquered the city in 1534, the Incas conquered it in the 15th century. By the time the Incas arrived, they found an organized civilization: In addition to the Shyris, recent discoveries have unveiled archaeological remains dating back to 1500 BC. These archaeological remains are aligned with the summer solstice and the winter equinox, which shows that the natives have an impressive knowledge of the course of the sun. These cultures are believed to have migrated from the Ecuadorian coast.
Quisat-a, the original name of the city, means "center of the Earth" in the ancient language "tsafiqui". Quito is the only place on the planet where the equator crosses the Sierra region. Therefore, pre-Inca cultures could develop their astronomical knowledge with the help of the clear signs that surround the city: the Pichincha volcano (15,000 feet) to the west, the Antisana (18,700 feet) to the east, and the peak from the snowy Cayambe (18,725 feet) to the northeast, almost exactly on the equator. The city itself rises in 9184 above sea level, it is the second highest capital in the world. Thus, Quito could be considered the best natural astronomical observatory.
Quito extends along the eastern side of the Pichincha volcano. The city is long and thin, with a length of approx. 22 miles and a width of 2.3 kilometers. The temperature in the city varies throughout the day, in the early morning and at night it can be 10ºC, and at noon it can reach 25ºC.
The geographical conditions of the area give rise to a series of ecosystems, therefore the surroundings of Quito offer a diversity of landscapes, each with unique flora and fauna.
La Mariscal can be considered the entertainment center of Quito, where you will find a wide variety of restaurants, bars, cafes, Internet cafes, Spanish schools and a wide range of accommodation options. Plaza Foch is one of the most popular meeting points for Ecuadorians and tourists.
It offers a variety of handicrafts from around the country at great prices, displayed in over 100 colorful stalls.