City of Quito
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 2,850 m. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art.
San Francisco de Quito, mainly called Quito, is in northwestern South America. It is positioned in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains.
Quito Tourist Information Centres
The Quito Visitors’ Bureau runs several visitor information centres within the Metropolitan District of Quito. These are becoming more sophisticated all the time, offering more services to visitors who need assistance or want to find out more about our city and region. Additionally, there are offices run by the Ministry of Tourism and the Pichincha Province Chamber of Tourism.
Quito Visitor Information Centres:
Presidential Palace, Quito
- Presidential Palace Quito
- Address: García Moreno, entre Chile y Sucre
- Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30 to 13.00, 15.00 to 17.00
- Web Site: www.presidencia.gov.ec
- Prices: free
Plaza Grande, Quito
The beautiful Plaza de Independencia, Located in the heart of the old town of Quito, is walled by the four pillars of society:
Quito Sights & Experiences
September 2008 marks the month in which Quito was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Quito shares the fame of being the first city to be included on the list – today 878 properties-strong along with Krakow in Poland. We have designed a Quito Sights & Experiences Tourism Attractions site we hope you’ll benefit from.