Cuenca, Ecuador
| Cuenca | |||
| — City — | |||
| Santa Ana de Los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca | |||
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| Nickname: Atenas del Ecuador (Athens of Ecuador) | |||
  Cuenca |
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| Coordinates: {{#invoke:Coordinates|coord}}{{#coordinates:2|53|57|S|79|00|55|W| | |||
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| Country | Ecuador | ||
| Province | Azuay | ||
| Canton | Cuenca | ||
| Founded | April 12, 1557 | ||
| Founder | Gil Ramírez Dávalos | ||
| Named for | Cuenca, Spain | ||
| Parishes | Urban Parishes
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| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Hugo Marcelo Cabrera Palacios | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 67.71 km² (26.1 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 2,560 m (8,399 ft) | ||
| Highest elevation | 2,550 m (8,366 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | 2,350 m (7,710 ft) | ||
| Population (2000)INEC decadal national census | |||
| - City | 467,000 | ||
| - Density | 6,897.1/km² (17,863.3/sq mi) | ||
| - Metro | 617,632 | ||
| Time zone | ECT (UTC-5) | ||
| Demonym | Cuencano(-a) | ||
| Website: http://www.municipalidadcuenca.gov.ec/ | |||
Cuenca (full name Santa Ana de los cuatro ríos de Cuenca) is the third largest city in Ecuador in terms of population. It is located in the Sierra, the highlands of Ecuador, at about 8,200 feet (2,500 m) above sea level. The center of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site because of its historical buildings. Cuenca is an outstanding example of a planned inland Spanish colonial city.
The original settlement was conquered by the Incas less than half a century before the conquistadors landed. Inca ruler Tupac Yupanqui ordered the construction of a grand city, a second Inca capital. Indians relayed stories to the Spanish of golden temples and other wonders, but by the time the Spaniards found the legendary city all that remained were ruins, leaving uncertainly about what had happened. For that reason, Cuenca is considered a candidate for the mythical city of gold, El Dorado, which is believed to have been burned by the inhabitants themselves in response to rumors of Spanish conquests.
Geography
Cuenca, capital of the province of Azuay, is located in the Andes in the southern region of Ecuador. The city ranges from 2,350 to 2,550 meters above sea level. The dominant features of the city's geography are also the source of its name: four rivers (the Tomebamba, Yanuncay, Tarqui, and Machangara, in order of importance). The first three rivers originate in the Páramo of Parque Nacional Cajas to the west of the city. These four rivers are part of the Amazon River watershed. Cuenca (meaning a basin caused by a confluence of rivers) is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with passes to the west, south, and east.
Climate
Like the rest of the Ecuadorian Andes, Cuenca enjoys a mild climate year-round. Days are generally warm and nights are cool. The average daily temperature is 14.6 degrees Celsius. There are two seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season, with some variation, falls between June and December. The rainy season, which is characterized by bright sunny mornings and afternoon showers, falls between January and May. The heaviest rains come in the invierno of March, April, and May.
History
First inhabitants
According to archeological discoveries in the Chopsi cave, the origins of the first inhabitants go back to about 8060 B.C.E. The ruins are a group of rock engravings housed in a cave consisting of large quadrangular buildings surrounded by smaller ones, enclosed in a stone wall.[1] They were hunters and nomads. Tools like arrows and spears have been found throughout the Andean valley.
The early inhabitants used the stable climate, fertile soil, and abundant water to develop agriculture. They grew potatoes, melloco (a juicy plant with a creeping stem, the sprouts of which swell at the tips into tubers), chocho (a type of gourd), squash, and quinoa, to name a few. They also domesticated animals such as cuy (guinea pigs), llamas, and alpacas.
Their technology also advanced; they started using ceramics, which are the main archaeological material from which to study their culture. Little has been found from the period between 5000 and 2000 B.C.E. A more organized society began around 2000 B.C.E., demonstrating delegated responsibilities like managing water and control of plagues, and there was a differentiation between administrative and religious authorities (known as shamans). This occurred during the Periods of Chaullabamba, Huayco, Pirincay, Monjas, Putushio, Huancarcucho, and Jubones. From then until 500 C.E. began the periods of Tacalshapa III and Cañari.[2]
Pre-Columbian society
The Cañari settlement called Guapondeleg is believed to have been founded around 500 C.E. Guapondeleg translates into "land as big as heaven." Less than half a century before the conquistadors landed, the Incas, after a bitter struggle, conquered the Cañari and occupied Guapondeleg and the surrounding area. Though the Incas replaced the Cañari architecture with their own, they did not suppress the Cañari or their impressive achievements in astronomy and agriculture. These, as was customary for the Incas, were absorbed into their culture. The city was then renamed Tomebamba.
Shortly after the defeat of the Cañari, Inca commander Tupac Yupanqui ordered the construction of a grand city—Pumapungo, "the door of the Puma"—whose magnificence was to challenge that of the Inca capital of Cuzco. Indians relayed stories to the Spanish of golden temples and other wonders, but by the time the Spaniards found the legendary city all that remained were ruins, leaving uncertainty about what happened to the fabled splendor and riches of the second Inca capital. After being abandoned by the Cañari and then the Incas, Cuenca was sparsely populated until the 1550s.[3]
Cuenca is considered a candidate for the mythical city of gold, El Dorado. El Dorado is believed to have been burned by the inhabitants themselves when rumors arose of Spanish conquests. Tomebamba's destruction by its inhabitants prior to the arrival of the Spanish lends credence to the theory that it was El Dorado.
Spanish settlement
Cuenca was founded on April 12, 1557, by the Spanish explorer Gil Ramírez Dávalos. The foundation of the city was commissioned by Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, the Viceroy of Peru at the time. Hurtado de Mendoza had the city named after his home town of Cuenca, Spain. The date of the foundation is notably later than other major Ecuadorian cities founded at the time, such as Quito (1534), Guayaquil (1538), and Loja (1548).
This inland colonial town was founded on the rigorous planning guidelines issued 30 years earlier by the Spanish king, Charles V. Cuenca still observes the formal orthogonal town plan, which it has respected for 400 years. Today, Cuenca illustrates the successful implantation of the principles of Renaissance urban planning in the Americas. Its layout also demonstrates the successful fusion of different societies and cultures in Latin America.
Cuenca achieved its independence on November 3, 1820. Cuenca's population and importance grew steadily during the colonial era and reached the peak of its importance in the first years of Ecuador's independence; it became the capital of one of the three provinces that made up the nascent republic. The other two capitals were Guayaquil and Quito.
Demographics
As per the last census, the population of the Cuenca canton was 417,632, of whom 267,000 constitute the urban population (i.e., the population of the city proper).
Economy
Economic development is based on industry and agricultural development. Cuenca has a longtime reputation for being a university city. It hosts eight universities, the oldest and best known being the University of Cuenca, a public university with about 12,000 students.
One of the region's agricultural and administrative centers, it has been a melting pot for local and immigrant populations. Much of the quinine bark of Ecuador is shipped from Cuenca, and the city is also a center for the trimming, stitching, and shipping of Panama hats, so called because of their former center of distribution. Other industries in the city are the refining of sugar, the manufacture of woolen goods and pottery, and the shipping of grain, hides, and cheese. Vendors sell handcrafted products such as shawls, metalwork, jewelry, ceramics, and clothes.
Culture
| Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca* | |
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
File:Cuenca1.jpg Cuenca's stone streets. | |
| State Party |  Ecuador
|
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, v |
| Reference | 863 |
| Region** | Latin America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. | |
Most tourists visit the historic area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located between the river Tomebamba and the streets Gran Colombia to the north, General Torres to the west, and Hermano Miguel to the east. This area's compactness, grid-like layout, and numerous readily identifiable monuments make it easy to navigate. Outside this area the city can be confusing, as there are dozens of narrow colonial streets with similar buildings. There are 52 churches in the historic area, though many are closed now due to lack of priests. The city is also famous for hosting an International Art Fair. The most impressive of the city's many museums are Banco Central, Casa de la Cultura, Conceptas Convent, Remigio Crespo Toral, Artes Populares de América, Arte Moderno, and Instituto Azuayo de Folclore.
Major fiestas of Cuenca come at the time of the "Mass of Children" that is carried out the day of the Arrival of Kings (January 6, Epiphany Day), or in the commemoration of the independence of the city (November 3), during which processions, cultural acts, and dances are organized. May 2 is the Festival of the Crosses. El Septenario begins with the Festival of Corpus Cristi, which lasts eight days and includes fireworks, processions, and concerts performed by brass bands. December's Pase del Niño, a festival that mixes folklore and religion, is probably Cuenca's most famous festival.
The nearby Cañar plantation (in the county of the same name) features the biggest Inca ruins in Ecuador.
Landmarks
- Old cathedral
- It was built in 1557, but soon was too small and in 1880, it was decided to build a replacement. At the present time, the old cathedral is in the process of restoration. It is no longer consecrated and is operated as a museum.
- New cathedral (official name: Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción)
- Its towers are truncated due to a calculation error by the architect. If they had been raised to their planned height, the foundation would not have been able to bear the weight. Nevertheless, the cathedral is a monumental work in Neo-Gothic style, and its blue and white domes have become a symbol for the city. Its facade is made of alabaster and local marble, while the floor is covered with pink marble, brought from Carrara, Italy. It can hold close to 10,000 people.
- Park Abdon Calderon
- Located in the center of Cuenca, between the old and new cathedrals.
- Monastery of El Carmen de Asuncion
- In the atrium a colorful flower market supplements the beauty of the church, which was founded in 1682. A sculpted stone facade and golden pulpit adorn the church.
- Monastery and Museum of La Concepcion
- Tombs of the seventeen century and a collection of religious art are part of this exhibition.
- House of Ecuadorian Culture
- Municipal Museum Remigio Crespo Toral
- Central Bank Museum
- Museum of Aboriginal Cultures
- Church of Santo Domingo
- San Blas
- Ruinas de todos los santos
- Four niches of Inca origin are found here. Their form is trapezoidal and they are built of stone. There are also remains of a colonial mill.
Transport
Cuenca's inter-provincial bus station is located on Avenida España, in the northeastern corner of the city, a twenty-minute walk or a brief taxi ride from the historic center. Also, many municipal buses provide frequent service. Service is available to major cities, such as Guayaquil and Quito, and also to nearby cities and towns. The trip to Guayaquil takes nearly 4 hours and goes through the Cajas National Park. The trip to Quito takes around 10 hours on the Pan-American South route. Many prefer to travel by bus at night, but those who do so should exercise caution due to reported bus hijackings, which have resulted in armed robberies.
The Mariscal Lamar airport is located due east of the Terminal Terrestre on Avenida España, a five-minute walk from the bus station. Three airlines serve Cuenca: TAME and AeroGal fly to Quito and Guayaquil daily, while Icaro Air connects only to Quito.
Notes
- ↑ http://www.goecuador.com/ecuador-general-info/cuenca-southern-andes2.html] GoEcuador.com Retrieved February 13, 2009
- ↑ http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/9-1-2006-107312.asp Buzzle.com. Retrieved February 13, 2009
- ↑ [1] Enjoy Ecuador. Retrieved February 13, 2009
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Hamre, Bonnie. Cuenca, Ecuador - City of flowers and Athens of the Andes About.com. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
- Jamieson, Ross W. 2002. Domestic architecture and power the historical archaeology of colonial Ecuador. Contributions to global historical archaeology. New York: Kluwer Academic Publishers. ISBN 9780306471728
- Malo, C. 1991. Cuenca, Ecuador. Quito: Ediciones Libri Mundi, E. Grosse-Luemern. ISBN 9789978990223
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca Retrieved February 13, 2009.
External links
All Links Retrieved February 13, 2009.
- Official Travel Guide To Cuenca, with maps, hotels, restaurants, photos & more information about Cuenca
- Cuenca government
- Cuenca on Wikitravel
- Universidad del azuay
- Cultura, tradición y turismo de Cuenca - Ecuador
- Sightseeing information
- My-Quito.com
- Galapagos online
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