City of Quito, World Heritage Site in Ecuador

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a highland city located near the equator at an altitude of 2,850m. After the ruins of the Inca Empire-era city in the 16th century, many religious buildings were constructed, including the San Francisco Cathedral and Monastery, which is now called the “Monastery of America. Various architectural styles can be seen, including Renaissance, Baroque, and Mudejar (Spanish Islamic style architecture), and despite the damage caused by the earthquake, it is extremely well preserved.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the city of Quito is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Quito!

What is the City of Quito?

Quito is a city located in the middle of the Pichincha volcano in Ecuador, at a height of 2,850 meters. Originally, Quito was founded by the indigenous Quitos people.

At the end of the 15th century, the city was ruled by the Inca Empire and became the empire’s second city, but during the invasion of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, the residents themselves destroyed the city, leaving it in ruins. The Spaniards who occupied the area then founded a city on the ruins, and the old town of Quito, with its churches and monasteries built between the 16th and 18th centuries, is known as one of the best-preserved old towns in the Americas.

The Spanish established a monastery and school where they taught theology and architecture to the indigenous people. The students who studied here became an artistic group called the “Quito School,” and they not only designed religious architecture, but were also responsible for altarpieces, paintings, and sculptures. The city was founded on a slope, with streets built like a grid around a plaza, and monasteries and churches clustered in the center. Quito, which still retains remnants of its Spanish colonial past, has maintained its old town so that it remains even as urban development has progressed.

Major registered properties

San Francisco Cathedral and Convent

Built in 1535, this is the oldest monastery in South America. A school of theology and art was also attached, and it was here that the indigenous people were educated.Its students eventually became known as the “Quito School” and were active in architecture and art.

Cathedral

Facing Independence Square in the center of the city, this cathedral was built in 1572 but was restored after each major earthquake. The main altar is decorated with sculptures by Caspicara, an indigenous artist.

Church of La Compañía de Jesús

Construction of this Jesuit cathedral began in 1605. It is a mixture of Italian and Spanish Baroque styles, and is considered one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Ecuador. The main altar is a gorgeous and ornate structure with 7 kg of quince pucks.

For what reason is the city of Quito on the World Heritage List?

Quito was evaluated on the following points

Registration Criteria (ii)
The influence of the Quito School is that it has influenced the surrounding cities not only in terms of architecture, but also in terms of sculpture, painting, and other artistic aspects.

Registration Criteria (iv)
Quito’s frequent major earthquakes mean that the city has created unique architectural structures based on nature and human behavior.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Impressions

Quito, which had functioned as a city since the Inca Empire, experienced many earthquakes during the Spanish colonial period, but many unique monasteries and churches were built. And a group of artists was created from Quito’s crafts school, and their architectural techniques and artistic methods have been appreciated for their influence on the surrounding area.

Incidentally, Quito has been inhabited since ancient times because of its high altitude and very pleasant year-round climate, even though it is located just below the equator. However, only about 2 million people live in the city, even though it is the capital, and it has the second largest urban population in the country. The most populous city is Guayaquil, a port city in southern Ecuador.

*This is a discussion derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts .As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.