South America » Ecuador
South America » Ecuador
Quito Historic Downtown, In the Andes there´s a treasure - Friday, October 5, 2007
Quito is a historical city, which cultural and human treasures are uncountable, because of its arquitecture, paints, sculptures, legends and traditions. People who live in Quito city should take care of it and its beauty.Quito was the first city declared UNESCO Mankind Cultural Heritage en 1978. This title comes from the biggest and the best conserve Historical Colonial Downtown in América, within great arquitecture constructions,.art, paints, and religious sculptures at Quito Colonial Historical downtown..
This treasure is the social, cultural, economic and religious expression of its people. Although, Quito has many alternative places and activities to offer, so the visitant will be welcome.
Quito’s history
Quito already existed before the Spanish foundation in 6th December 1534. At the “época aborígen” it was the centre of the antique Reino de Quitus. It also was part f the Inca Empire, after Huayna Capac invasion. As he died , he gave his son Atahualpa, Quito to be his government capital.
After the Inca Empire, the Spanish came and Diego de Almagro began the Foundation of the City "Santiago de Quito", next to the nowadays Riobamba.
But some months later, Sebastián de Benalcázar was the real conqueror of Quito, and founded it officially in 6th December 1534, as the City of San Francisco de Quito. It was built on the rests f the antique Inca city, left by Rumiñahui.
Years later, in 1553, the Real Audiencia de Quito was created. It helped to conform the political and administrative colonial structure.
1809 the Junta de Gobierno was created. This Junta signed for the first Independence in América on August the 10th. This certificate was signed in the Sala Capitular of the Church and the Monastery of San Agustín. Thas was the so called First Independences Shout in América, frustrated and fourth by the spanish army..
Years later, Guayaquil was the scenery of the definitive Independence the 9th October 1820. But the Battle taken place in the Pichincha was also a big goal for the Independence. It happened the 24th may 1822.
That’s why Quito was know part f the so called Gran Colombia, which was the way throughout Bolivar dreamed to form a united América.
1830 the Gran Colombia was over and Bolívar died. The Republic of Ecuador was born, and Quito was declared its capital.
Quito's Churches
Quito’s churches have a strong relation with the Spanish colonization and the evangelist process imposed by the conquerors to the indigenas. In this scenery appeared churches, cloisters, recoleta, workshops, which needed a lot of indigena work and nature resources.
At the last quarter of the XVI century begun the construction of these religious buildings. They took the models of the renacentists, mannerists, and the baroque buildings. This was because of the many Spanish, Italian and German architects that were bought by the religious communities. This explanes the different arquitecture styles in arts and arquitecures. So it was how the Spanish School was formed, expressing the different t artistic styles with its own identity, and fusion of aboriginal and European elements.
- Created:
- Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 3:00 PM