10. Cuenca

This is the picture of Cuenca. Taken from : visitworldplaces.com

The last top tourist attractions in Spain is the city of Cuenca. For your infromation, the city of Cuenca or in its full name ‘Santa Ana de los cuatro ríos de Cuenca’ is the capital of Azuay Province. It is located in the highlands of Ecuador at about 2,500 meters above sea level, with an urban population of approximately 400,000 rising to 700,000 inhabitants in the larger metro area. The center of the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site due to its many historical buildings. Cuenca is well known for its stunning architecture, tourist attractions, hotels and night activities.

Short Orientation

The city is divided in half by the Rio Tomebamba. In the northern half the heart of the colonial city is situated, in the south the newer suburbs. The Rio Tomebamba is worth having a look. At the riverside it is lined by colonial buildings and washwomen lying out their clothing to dry at the banks of the river. This is an interesting and colorful sight.

This is the photo of the monuments at Cuenca. Taken from: www.skyscrapercity.com

The Attractions in Cuenca

Cuenca is unarguably the center of culture and art of Ecuador. For its charming historical center, the churches, the small cobbled streets and colonial houses with noble facades, prim balustrades, wrought iron balconies and red tiled roofs, it was declared as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1999.

The impressive churches in the old center are dating back to the 16th to 17th century and if you believe it, or not, this is the city of churches with 52 churches, one for every Sunday! Being in the historical center, you might get the impression that time has stood still.

Cuenca is an ideal place for al travellers who are fed up with the bustling, noisy life of Quito. The inhabitants of Cuenca are more conservative and in this tranquil city traditions and customs are connected to modern life in a very harmonic way. You won´t find many skyscrapers here!

For everyone who is interested in history and culture Cuenca is the town to visit. Being a meeting point for many different cultures has had a strong influence on arts and traditions.

Cuenca boasts a huge variety of museums and art galleries and is the most important center of Artesania in Ecuador. There you can buy unique souvenirs of high quality, such as Panama Hats, leather jackets, ceramics, embroideries, gold jewellery and clothing, which are produced around Cuenca.

Landmarks

• Old Cathedral (Iglesia de El Sagrario)
• New Cathedral (official name: Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción)
• Park Abdon Calderon. It is located in the center of Cuenca between the old and new cathedrals. On the park benches, people meet to converse and absorb its tranquility. The municipal offices are located nearby.
• House of the Ecuadorian Culture
• Municipal Museum Remigio Crespo Toral
• Museum of the Central Bank
• Museum of the Aboriginal Cultures
• Church of Santo Domingo

How to get to Cuenca

When you arrive in Cuenca, there is a bus that takes you from the AVE station to the "new town," which is below the old town of Cuenca (where all the sights are). The bus was waiting in the parking lot of the AVE station when my train arrived. The bus costs 1.10€. The driver will let you know when to get off to catch bus #1, which goes to Plaza Mayor, the center of the old town. Bus #1 costs .70€, and it winds its way up the hill to Plaza Mayor. 

Once there, you will pop into the TI, where they have a large, detailed free map of the town. There are also taxis available at the AVE station. If you have a group of 3 or 4 people, the taxi will probably cost you about the same as the two buses, and be a bit faster.