Cuenca is Ecuador’s most attractive city and easily the most enjoyable place in which to wander as a tourist. The city is packed full of churches, museums, convents, open squares, colonial buildings and colourful markets. It is divided by the very scenic Tomebamba River and offers a more ... Read review
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Probably the most pleasant city in South America ? Disadvantages: Road from north is very poor
Cuenca is Ecuador’s most attractive city and easily the most enjoyable place in which to wander as a tourist. The city is packed full of churches, museums, convents, open squares, colonial buildings and colourful markets. It is divided by the very scenic Tomebamba River and offers a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere than either Quito or Guayaquil. The city has plenty of moderately sized attractions that can be strung together to make your ... ...the old colonial centre of Cuenca are paved with rectangular cobblestones and the main streets are the Calle Gran Colombia and Calle Mariscal Sucre. This area contains the main city square of Plaza Abdon Calderon which is dominated by the enormous Catedral de la Immaculada (or New Cathedral). This cathedral was started in 1885 and was intended to be the largest in South America. However, a slight miscalculation meant that two main towers at the front ... more
Cuenca is Ecuador’s most attractive city and easily the most enjoyable place in which to wander as a tourist. The city is packed full of churches, museums, convents, open squares, colonial buildings and colourful markets. It is divided by the very scenic Tomebamba River and offers a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere than either Quito or Guayaquil. The city has plenty of moderately sized attractions that can be strung together to make your visit as busy or relaxed as you wish.
The streets of the old colonial centre of Cuenca are paved with rectangular cobblestones and the main streets are the Calle Gran Colombia and Calle Mariscal Sucre. This area contains the main city square of Plaza Abdon Calderon which is dominated by the enormous Catedral de la Immaculada (or New Cathedral). This cathedral was started in 1885 and was intended to be the largest in South America. However, a slight miscalculation meant that two main towers at the front of the building could not support the envisaged domes. Even without these domes, it remains a large building and behind the front towers lie a series of sky-blue cupolas that give it a striking appearance when viewed from many different directions. The original cathedral, El Sagrario (or Old Cathedral), is on the opposite corner of this square and dates from 1557 when the present Cuenca was founded (it has recently been closed for renovation).
The church of El Carmen de la Asuncion lies across Calle Mariscal Sucre from the New Cathedral. A brightly coloured flower market is held here every day and is best visited early in the morning. There is no shortage for anyone wishing to see more churches. If interested, visit the Church of San Francisco, the Church of Santo Domingo and the Church of San Blas.
The Museo de las Conceptas is located in the centre of the city in a 17th century convent building. It is a peaceful, pleasant museum with a large number of religious paintings and displays illustrating the simple life of convent nuns.
To the south, the Museo de Artes Populares is operated by CIDAP and is found off Calle Larga down a wide series of steps that lead to the River Tomebamba. This museum covers local craftsmanship and art. It is free and also has a shop. Other museums include the Museo de Arte Moderno located in the west of the city and built into an old convent building.
The ruins of Todos Santos are located in the southeast corner of the city in a small park now owned by the Central Bank of Ecuador. The site features architectural ruins from the Canari, Inca and Spanish periods of the city’s history. The Museo del Banco Central is also located here and houses a major display of religious art, Incan and Canari archaeology together with items relating to Cuenca’s history. From this point, it is well worth just taking a stroll along the banks of the Tomebamba River for a greener and more scenic break from the city.
The best view of the city is from the indigenous village of Turi. On the edge of the village and overlooking the city is the Turi Church as well as the excellent Mirador de Turi giving wide panoramic views.
For a trip out of the city, Ingapirca is the main Incan archaeological site in Ecuador and lies about 70km north of Cuenca. The ruins are not as grand as those to be found in Peru but are nevertheless historically important and fascinating to visit. The ruins themselves are mostly just a collection of low outline walls that illustrate the layout that once existed. However, there are a few more substantial buildings and the observatory (or temple) is an intriguing building that displays much intricacy in the stonework. It is thought that the building was originally built by the Canaris as an observatory but was later converted by the Incas into a temple used to worship the sun. It is elliptical in shape and the long axis lies exactly along the east-west line.
Finally, don't forget the shopping. This is the home of the Panama Hat. Yes, it is from Ecuador (and not Panama). Woolen jumpers and many other local crafts abound all over Cuenca.
.
Don´t count to find any parador in the capital cities like Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia, but if you are up let´s say for a plain monk´s cell with small windows, beds wide apart (yes, we are in a Catholic country ), a Latin bible on the bedside table but equipped with a state-of-the-art bath, airconditioning and satellite TV you´ll find the Parador de Chinchon in a former abbey some 60 km south of Madrid.
Or, if you are up for a parador con vista, a room with a view, then don´t hesitate to check in the Parador de Toledo, built on a hill high above the Tajo river, with THE exclusive view of this lovely city with its Alcazar castle, cathedrals with Goya paintings and silversmith shops.
To reside on top of the world is almost anybody´s dream: fulfill it in a number of cities like Cuenca, Jaen, Carmona or Bayona and look down like Don ...
Advantages: Wonderful insight into South America all in one small country. Disadvantages: Poverty and associated social impacts.
enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
Riobamba-Hotel not worth mentioning only worth a visit for the Devils Nose train journey. Leaves at 6am but you must buy tickets the night before, its $11. Get there early (5am) if you want a rooftop seat. Tagua nut carvings are the specialty here and are much cheaper than elswhere. We bought 10 for $27! Chifa Peking does a great sweet and sour chicken. 2 meals and beer is $8.
Cuenca- lovely colonial city. Very relaxed, nice buildings, churches and museums. Easy to visit Ingapirca the Inca ruins. Use the local bus from the bus station for a couple of dollars rather than a trip for $20 from your hotel. Stayed in lovely colonial house called La Chordeleg for $22, its a mid range hotel & includes continental breakfast. Food in Cuenca is laughably cheap.
Rumpipampa in the main plaza is excellent value. Easy to ...
Advantages: Great country to explore Disadvantages: Cyrillic, possibly, and Varna.
and light shows were still highly impressed by this one.
In the daytime the town turned out to be a very nice mix of old and new, swooping vertiginously round a ridiculous amount of curving river - think Luxembourg City, then add a dash of Cuenca in Spain, and double it. This is a good town for the traditional shops, as well as the modern, and with several multi-lingual estate agents around, it seems a good place to get that little country hideaway to start renovating. Starting price, £8,000.
However a good tour, such as the one experienced, will not just concentrate on the towns and cities. The countryside is very nice to look at too, and an effort should be made to see the rolling hills that are everywhere. Any drive will take you seemingly at random past a modern Soviet monument or six, sited just in the middle of nowhere for very ...
theediscerning 31.08.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Bulgaria
