The First-Ever UNESCO-Recognized City – Quito, Ecuador – Quito, Ecuador was the first city to be recognized by UNESCO’s World Heritage Organization. The reason? Quite literally, the city itself. Quito has preserved a vast number of historically significant sites, artifacts, and other items that the public can visit.
The city has a unique take on the Baroque period stylings, pointing to indigenous peoples’ learning, adapting, and reinterpreting the style that was brought to the region by the Spaniards in the Colonial Period. As a result, the Quito School of Architecture soon became a significantly influential movement.
If Quito is on your radar and you’re looking for itinerary ideas, take a look at these:
The Panecillo
The Panecillo is a statue of the Virgin Mary located on a hillside in Quito. The hill is visible from Quito’s historic city center. The statue of the Virgin is not only taller than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, but it’s also said it’s the world’s largest sculpture made of aluminum. Of course, the statue itself is the reason for climbing this hill, but it’s the view of Quito that makes the climb worth it. Not to mention – Ecuadorian street food and souvenirs!
The Plaza Grande
Nearly all cities from the colonial period have main plazas. These were the original government centers. Quito’s plaza, the Plaza Grande, is aptly named. While officially known as the Plaza de Indepencia, it’s the largest and most especially beautiful. The plaza is made up of five main buildings the Carondelet, Archbishop, and Municipal Palaces, as well as Metropolitan Cathedral and Plaza Grande Hotel.
The Carondelet Palace is named for the baron that presided over the original building efforts and it has been home to the leaders of Ecuador ever since. While it is still the home of government, the public is allowed to visit. Tours are available, and wait until you see the Plaza Grande from the palace balcony!
Casa de Alabado Museum
Finally, you may have visited your share of museums, but there’s no museum quite like Casa de Alabado. Amongst its many collections is a selection of pre-Colombian artworks that have been fully restored. These pieces date back to nearly 7,000 BC and span the entirety of Ecuadorian history up to the era of colonial Spanish rule.
Ready to discover why UNESCO designated Quito a World Heritage City?
Tourico Vacations is the first online booking engine committed to providing customers access to exceptional insider prices on over 16,000 hotels, 2,000 cruise itineraries, flights, car rentals, vacation packages, and attractions worldwide – and now, we offer incredible private home rentals as well. In addition to travel services, Tourico Vacations also offers Condos, European and American homes, a unique service offering accommodations at over 4,500 luxury vacation condos worldwide by the week.
5 Tips That Will Save You Time and Money On Your Vacation