A pre-Covid look at the bountiful offerings of Quito.

High up in the Andes mountains, Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is filled with colonial architecture and represents the largest historic centre in South America. Thanks to its altitude, it is also the closest national capital to the sun.

Preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its many old churches, beautiful public squares, and world-class museums, San Francisco de Quito, as this harmonious city is officially called, is home to around 1.6 million people, and filled with artisans, who produce wonderful local arts and crafts, from ceramics and wood carvings to multi-hued clothing.

The New Town, or La Mariscal, is centred on the bustling Plaza del Quinde, packed with markets, trendy cafés and nightlife. Meanwhile, Plaza de la Independencia, the civic heart of Old Town, is overlooked by the Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Presidential Palace.

Close by, the Pichincha Volcano was once the setting of a historic battle that resulted in Quito’s liberation from Spain, but it’s the Cotopaxi Volcano that is Quito’s most famous landmark.

And no trip to Quito is complete without visiting the Mitad del Mundo Monument and Intiñan Solar Museum, where you walk the line of the equator and travel two hemispheres at the same time!

View the original video here.

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