A jewel of a historic city centre

Quito, the capital of a country that was named after the Equator, lies in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it is less than 20 kilometres to the line that divides the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The place where French scientist Charles-Marie de La Condamine determined the (more or less) precise location of the Equator, is now marked by a large monument: La Mitad del Mundo, the centre of the world.

In 1978, UNESCO declared Quito’s city centre a World Heritage site. The historic downtown lies at an elevation of approximately 9,350 feet and covers around 790 acres. Here you will find narrow streets and squares made from volcanic stone, as well as serene convents, elegant buildings with smooth white façades and Gothic and Baroque churches filled with gold. However, the historic centre is more than just an open-air museum; it is the vibrant heart of the city where you can watch and enjoy the local life both day and night.

The most artistic street

La Ronda, Quito's famous artistic street, became a gathering place for writers, artists and musicians in the 1930s. Today, this is a great place to browse for all kinds of crafts including items made of tin or silver, and hats crafted from toquilla, a local type of straw. Everything is made right here. At night, street musicians take over and locals flock to the many bars and restaurants.

Independence SquareQuito’s main square

The Plaza de la Independencia is the heart of the old city where since the 16th century many important historic events have taken place. The square is framed by important buildings, such as the Palacio de Gobierno (the Presidential Palace), the Cathedral and the Town Hall. Nearby is the Pasaje Espejo, a pleasant pedestrian-only street lined with many restaurants and the Teatro Bolívar – named after Simón Bolívar, the man who fought for the country’s independence.

The best view

You can’t miss the enormous 375-feet-high Basílica del Voto Nacional and that's a good thing. This neo-Gothic church building features some very special elements that are not usually seen outside of Ecuador: gargoyles in the form of iguanas, monkeys, armadillos and turtles from the Galapagos Archipelago. It is worth climbing up to the observation deck for a closer look. You will also be rewarded with a panoramic view of the old city and the surrounding area.