South America Travel Destinations |
Quito City Tour Plus a Visit to the Equatorial Monument |
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Ecuador's capital sits high in the Andes in the green, lush valleys of the Andes,
surrounded by peaks and volcanoes reaching close to 20,000 feet. Quito is cosmopolitan,
scenic, and full of life. Citizens of Quito, tend to be helpful and friendly.
The colonial section of Quito, established by the conquistadors in the 1500's,
is a living museum of the grand-style Spanish and colonial architecture; its
mansions, cathedrals and squares have been sited as a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO. After a visit to the Parliament Building, your tour takes you to the
colonial center for a walking tour along the cobblestone streets. You will
have the chance to view buildings from the 16th century to the 18th century,
including the San Agustin Church and Chapter Hall. |
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Then stroll through Independence Square
where the Presidential Palace can be found, and marvel
at the ornate interior of the Baroque/Moorish Church
and Convent of San Francisco. The last part of your tour
takes you far above the colonial section where the statuesque
guardian of the city—the winged Virgin of Quito—keeps
watch over her ancient city. The view is spectacular,
not only of the city far below, but of the towering Andes
above and beyond. After a short ride North of Quito,
you will find the Equatorial Monument, marking the "middle
of the world", and standing as a tribute to those
French scientists who determined the shape of the earth.
Here too, you can visit the Ethnographic Museum, where
ethnic groups of Ecuador display their colorful way of
life.
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