Considered
the most beautiful
city in the
country, Cuenca
likes to call
itself the
Athens of
Ecuador. But
its narrow,
cobbled streets,
houses with
wrought iron
balconies,
flower-filled
patios and
many fine
old churches
are more reminiscent
of ancient
hill towns
like Ronda
and Cordoba
of Andalucia
in southern
Spain. “Of
all the earth,
as far as
I know it,”
wrote the
early twentieth
century traveller
Harry A. Franck,
“Cuenca has
the most perfect
climate.”
Most visitors
wholeheartedly
concur.
The city is
proud of its
colonial-style
architecture,
its many churches
and its artistic
and intellectual
heritage.
The University
of Cuenca
is rated as
one of the
best in Ecuador
and Latin
America, and
at the same
time the city
is something
of a colony
of artists
and artisans.
The city ranks
among the
most Roman
Catholic of
the continent:
its motto
is “Primero
Dios, Despues
Vos” [First
God, Then
You].
Cuenca is
also the biggest
production
centre of
the misnamed
“panama” hat.
If you enjoy
exploring
back street
markets, delving
into old churches,
museums and
craft shops,
sitting around
in patio cafes
and watching
the world
go by, then
Cuenca is
for you.
Background
The
Cuenca area
was inhabited
by Canari
Indians
who put up
a long and
fierce fight
against the
Incas
moving up
from the south
in the 15th
century. Under
the command
of the Tupac
Inca Yupanqui,
the Incas
eventually
prevailed
and built
themselves
a splendid
city called
Tomebamba
in an area
the Canaris
called “Guapondelig”,
which means
“plain as
vast as the
sky.” The
city was designed
as a northern
version of
the magnificent
Inca
city of Cuzco.
Reports spoke
of buildings
set with precious
stones and
emeralds,
and sun temples
covered with
sheets of
the finest
gold. Sadly,
Tomebamba
was a short-lived
accomplishment.
Before the
Spanish conquistadors'
invasion the
Incas destroyed
their own
creation.
Today, not
much remains
of the Inca
city aside
from a few
excavated
walls by the
River Tomebamba.
In April 1557,
the Spanish
founded the
city of Cuenca
to the northeast
of the ruins
of the Inca
city in an
area known
as Paucarbamba,
which in the
Quichua language
means “plain
of flowers.”
It was a well-chosen
site with
fertile soil
watered by
four rivers
and a pleasant,
spring-like
climate. In
typical fashion,
the Spanish
at once began
building the
cathedral
on the west
side of the
main plaza,
Parque Caldederon.
As the city
grew, and
more buildings
were constructed
workers sometimes
unearthed
Inca artifacts.
In 1980 excavations
by the river
undertaken
by the Banco
Central uncovered
Inca tombs
and skeletons,
and silver
and gold relics.
Last updated
12th July
2006
| |Article contributed by Dominic Hamilton||| |
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