Cuenca, Ecuador

Coordinates: 2°53′50.69″S 79°00′16.13″W / 2.8974139°S 79.0044806°W / -2.8974139; -79.0044806
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Cuenca
City
Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
Cuenca Tram and archaeological ruins of Pumapungo
.
Flag of Cuenca
Flag
Coat of arms of Cuenca
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
Atenas del Ecuador (Athens of Ecuador)
Cuenca is located in Ecuador
Cuenca
Cuenca
Location in Ecuador
Coordinates: 2°53′50.69″S 79°00′16.13″W / 2.8974139°S 79.0044806°W / -2.8974139; -79.0044806
CountryEcuador
ProvinceAzuay
CantonCuenca Canton
FoundedApril 12, 1557
Founded byGil Ramírez Dávalos
Named forCuenca, Spain
Parishes
Urban Parishes
  • Bellavista
  • Cañaribamba
  • El Batán
  • El Sagrario
  • El Vecino
  • Gil Ramírez Dávalos
  • Hermano Miguel
  • Huayna Cápac
  • Machángara
  • Monay
  • San Blas
  • San Sebastián
  • Sucre
  • Totoracocha
  • Yanuncay
Government
 • MayorCristian Zamora
Area
 • City3,195 km2 (1,234 sq mi)
 • Urban
71.45 km2 (27.59 sq mi)
 • Canton3,195 km2 (1,234 sq mi)
Elevation
2,560 m (8,400 ft)
Highest elevation
2,550 m (8,370 ft)
Lowest elevation
2,350 m (7,710 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)
ECT)
Postal code
EC010150
Area code(+593) 07
ClimateMarine
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

Cuenca, officially Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca, is an Ecuadorian city, head of the canton of the same name and capital of the province of Azuay, as well as its largest and most populated city. It is crossed by the Tomebamba, Tarqui, Yanuncay and Machángara rivers,[4] in the south-central inter-Andean region of Ecuador, in the Paute river basin, at an altitude of 2,538 meters above sea level[5] and with a temperate Andean climate averaging 16.3 °C.

It has been locally called "Cuenca of the Andes" or "Athens of Ecuador"[6][7] for its architecture, its cultural diversity, its contribution to Ecuadorian arts, sciences and literature, and for being the birthplace of many illustrious figures of Ecuadorian society.[7][6] At the 2022 census it had a population of 596,101 inhabitants,[2] making it the third most populous city in the country behind Guayaquil and Quito. The city is the core of the Cuenca metropolitan area, which is also made up of nearby rural towns and parishes. The conglomerate also ranks third among Ecuador's conurbations.

It was founded on April 12, 1557, on the ruins of the

Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza. During the 20th century, the city continued to grow, promoting education and culture, and in 1999 its historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[10] It is one of Ecuador's most important administrative, economic, financial and commercial centers. The city's main activities are commerce and industry; in recent years, Cuenca has also established itself as an international tourist attraction.[citation needed
]

Toponymy

The city is named Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca in honor of the city of

Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, who was the one who ordered the Spanish Gil Ramírez Dávalos to found the city and the fact that this place, in its geographical features, is very similar to the Spanish city. Viceroy Andrés Hurtado was also at that time High Guard of the European city of Cuenca, and it was then a gift from the conquistador to the viceroy.[11] In addition, the name "de los Ríos" includes the fact that it is crossed by the rivers: Tomebamba, Tarqui, Yanuncay and Machángara. The rest of the name comes from the Spanish tradition of dedicating new cities to a saint of the Catholic Church, in this case Saint Anne
.

History

Inca painter Guamán Poma in his work "Nueva corónica y buen gobierno". Royal Library, Denmark.[12]
Cuenca City Hall on Bolívar Street
Old Cathedral of Cuenca

“The plateau is a place treasured by empires," comments Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera. "The Cañari then Inca and then Spanish occupied the region in the last two millennia, each renaming it in their own language. Now the capital city is called Cuenca and the province Azuay.”[13]

According to studies and

archeological discoveries, the origins of the first inhabitants go back to the year 8060 BC in the Cave of Chopsi. They were hunters, hunting everything the Páramo offered them, and nomads, following the animals and seasons. Their culture is represented by tools such as arrows and spears, which have been found throughout the Andean
valley. The culture was most present about 5585 BC.

Later, the early indigenous people used the stable climate, fertile soil, and abundant water to develop

camelids: llamas and alpacas
.

Their technology was also advanced. For example, they began creating ceramics. In fact, ceramics constitute the greatest number of artifacts which

archeologists use to study their culture. The period from 5000 BCE to 2000 BCE is not well represented in the archeological record. Beginning around 2000 BCE, the people developed a more highly organized society, demonstrating delegated responsibilities, such as the managing of water and control of plagues. People were specialized as 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 AD began the periods of Tacalshapa III and the Cañari people
, who were absorbed into the Incas in the 15th century.

Pre-Columbian society

Cuenca was originally a

Tomebamba. The city became known as the second Cusco
, a regional capital.

After the defeat of the

Tupac Yupanqui, ordered the construction of a grand city to be called Pumapungo, "the door of the Puma." Its magnificence was said to have rivaled that of the Inca capital of Cuzco. Indians told stories to the Spanish chroniclers of golden
temples and other such wonders, but by the time the Spaniards found the legendary city, all that remained were ruins. They wondered what happened to the fabled splendor and riches of the second Inca capital. After having been abandoned by the Cañari and then the Incas, Tomebamba was sparsely populated until the 1550s.

Tomebamba is considered a candidate for the mythical city of gold which the Spanish called El Dorado. The Spanish thought El Dorado was burned by the inhabitants after they heard of the Spanish conquests. Tomebamba's destruction by its inhabitants prior to the arrival of the Spanish suggests it may have been what the Spanish called El Dorado.

Spanish settlement

Monastery of Carmen de la Asunción, founded in 1682 for the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites and it was built in 1730.[14][15][16]

The Spanish settlement of Cuenca was founded on April 12, 1557, by the

Viceroy of Peru had commissioned the founding and ordered the city named after his home town of Cuenca, Spain
. It was founded decades after other major Spanish settlements in the region, such as Quito (1534), Guayaquil (1538), and Loja (1548). Cuenca's population and importance grew steadily during the colonial era.

Cuenca reached the peak of its importance in the first years of Ecuador's independence; Cuenca achieved its independence on November 3, 1820. It became the capital of one of the three provinces that made up the nascent republic. The other two capitals were Guayaquil and Quito.

Population

As per the last INEC estimate for 2015, the population of the Cuenca canton was 580,000 inhabitants, of which 400,000 constitute the urban population (i.e., the population of the city proper). Local publications estimate that the expat population is between 4,000 and 6,000.[17] The economic development is based on industry and agricultural development.

The Cuenca Metropolitan Area includes the cities of Azogues, Biblian, and Deleg in the Cañar province and the cities of Paute and Gualaceo in the Azuay province with a population of 730,000 inhabitants; however, Cuenca's influence in the cultural, economic, and educational areas extends to all the remaining cities 50 miles (80 kilometres) around the city.

Economy

Cuenca is known for its textiles, furniture, hats, and shoes. The straw hats known around the world as Panama hats are made in Cuenca by local artisans. Cuenca also exports flowers to the United States and countries in Europe. While farming has shrunk in the past years, it is still an important sector of the city's economy, mainly vegetables and corn. Cattle ranching is also an important economic activity. Since Cuenca is located in the Andes mountains surrounded by forested areas nearby, mining and logging are also local industries. Some of the common mined resources are kaolin, plaster, limestone, sand, and carbon. Cuenca has also an important industrial and commercial sector.

Tourism continues to grow: Cuenca has many churches and a well-preserved old town that are a part of the cultural heritage of the city. Near Cuenca some important national parks, including Cajas National Park have been created.

At the turn of the century, the country's economy was affected by the change in currency, from sucre to USD.[18]

Geography

Cuenca, capital of the province of Azuay, is located in the sierra of the Andes in the Austro or southern region of Ecuador. It is approximately 470 km south of Quito and 200 km southeast of Guayaquil. The city ranges from 2,350 to 2,550 metres (7,710 to 8,370 feet) above sea level.

The dominant features of the city's geography are also the source of its name in Spanish: the four rivers of Cuenca (meaning a basin made by a

Parque Nacional Cajas
to the west of the city.

River Tomebamba next to the city centre

Parishes

Cuenca Canton contains the following parishes:

Climate

Cuenca features a

subtropical highland climate (Cfb) under the Köppen climate classification. Like the rest of the Ecuadorian Andes, Cuenca enjoys a mild climate year-round. Days are generally warm and nights are cool enough that sweaters or jackets are usually desired. The average daily temperature is 14.7 °C (58.5 °F). 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 (wet season
) of March, April and May.

Climate data for Cuenca, Ecuador
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4) 		29.9
(85.8) 		28.8
(83.8) 		33.0
(91.4) 		32.0
(89.6) 		31.6
(88.9) 		29.5
(85.1) 		34.0
(93.2) 		31.2
(88.2) 		33.0
(91.4) 		33.0
(91.4) 		33.0
(91.4) 		34.0
(93.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3) 		22.4
(72.3) 		21.9
(71.4) 		21.7
(71.1) 		21.4
(70.5) 		20.4
(68.7) 		19.9
(67.8) 		20.4
(68.7) 		21.3
(70.3) 		22.3
(72.1) 		23.1
(73.6) 		23.1
(73.6) 		21.7
(71.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 15.3
(59.5) 		15.8
(60.4) 		15.6
(60.1) 		15.3
(59.5) 		14.4
(57.9) 		13.6
(56.5) 		13.3
(55.9) 		13.3
(55.9) 		14.7
(58.5) 		15.3
(59.5) 		14.7
(58.5) 		15.6
(60.1) 		14.7
(58.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6) 		11.1
(52.0) 		11.2
(52.2) 		10.9
(51.6) 		10.6
(51.1) 		9.8
(49.6) 		9.4
(48.9) 		9.1
(48.4) 		9.5
(49.1) 		10.1
(50.2) 		10.2
(50.4) 		10.6
(51.1) 		10.3
(50.5)
Record low °C (°F) 0.0
(32.0) 		0.0
(32.0) 		1.0
(33.8) 		1.0
(33.8) 		0.0
(32.0) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		−0.6
(30.9) 		0.0
(32.0) 		−3.0
(26.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 67
(2.6) 		85
(3.3) 		107
(4.2) 		109
(4.3) 		77
(3.0) 		68
(2.7) 		53
(2.1) 		47
(1.9) 		56
(2.2) 		73
(2.9) 		69
(2.7) 		67
(2.6) 		878
(34.5)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) 20 21 22 19 15 11 10 10 12 16 13 10 179
Mean monthly sunshine hours 155 113 124 120 155 150 186 186 150 155 150 155 1,799
Source 1: Temperatures: Climate Ecuador,[19] Voodoo Skies[20]
Source 2: Other: Cuenca Climate Guide [21]

Education

Universities

The first

National Assembly of Ecuador on January 4, 2011.[22]

The city has the following Universities:

The first university is classified as an A category university; the subsequent next three are B category. universities This was stated by the Council for Evaluation, Validation and Assurance of the Quality in Superior Education of Ecuador (CEAACES)[23]

Primary and secondary schools

International schools:

Main sights

Historic Centre of Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Catedral Nueva
CriteriaCultural: ii, iv, v
Reference863
Inscription1999 (23rd Session)
Area224.14 ha
Buffer zone1,836.94 ha

Most tourists visit the historic area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, between the river Tomebamba and the streets of 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.

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. The nearby Cañar plantation (in the county of the same name) features the biggest Inca ruins in Ecuador.

Landmarks

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Museo Banco Central Cuenca

Surroundings

  • Molleturo, a vast rural area (about 1,000 square kilometres or 386 square miles) situated in Ecuador's southern Andes, is composed of several little villages (hamlets). The centre of the area is located 1.5 hours away by car from the nearest big city (Cuenca). This distance, however, is very short compared to ten years ago, when there was no road for cars and it took people three days of mule riding to get to Cuenca. In spite of the advantages, the road has also had negative impacts on the ecological system, which is still very important for people's daily survival.
  • Jima, located near Cuenca, is a hiking hotspot for southern Ecuador. Jima is located at the base of two beautiful green mountains at 8,800 feet (2,700 metres). Hikes for all skill levels are available, including a three-day hike from the peaks of the Andes mountains down into the lush tropical rainforest of the Amazon basin.
  • Gualaceo
  • Chordeleg, located less than 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Cuenca, is a town of Cañari origin known for its weavers, embroiderers, and potters. This same area includes a stone corridor in snake form, built in pre-Inca time, known for gold and silver smiths and local jewelry.
View of Cajas National Park
Lacs en miroir (Mirrored lakes) in Cajas National Park
  • Azogues, the capital of Cañar Province, is located 29 kilometres (18 miles) from Cuenca. A city with a colonial atmosphere, one of its highlights is San Francisco's convent, built on the summit of a huaca (sacred mountain) of the prehispanic residents.
  • Cañar plantation, with a colorful market and the nearby ruins of Ingapirca (Kichwa: "Inca wall"), is located 65 kilometres (40 miles) from Cuenca and is usually the starting point for the trips to the famous ruins that, according to experts, were used to control the native Cañaris. Stores, bathrooms, a tambo for the Inca, and a temple dedicated to the sun are all part of Ingapirca, which was built in the 15th century by orders of Huayna Capac.

Culture

Festivities

One of the festivities celebrated in Cuenca and in other parts of Ecuador is "El Carnaval." This holiday is celebrated three days prior to Ash Wednesday. Families get together to celebrate what started as a "pagan ritual." Now it is celebrated by wetting friends and random people with water balloons and spraying "Carioca," a nonstaining foam.

Additionally, Cuenca's Independence Day is celebrated at the beginning of November. The festivities span a number of days and consist of various parades, concerts, cultural events, and artisan fairs.[24]

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Cuenca shares characteristics with other mountainous parts of Ecuador. As in other regions of Ecuador, cuy (

Llapingachos, mote pillo, mote pata, and morocho are popular. Trout, which can be caught in nearby El Cajas National Park, is another popular dish.[26]

In Cuenca, lunch is the largest meal of the day and is typically served in two courses.[27] The first course is soup, which is followed by a plate of stewed or grilled meat and rice.

Transport

Street view of Simón Bolívar Street, named after Simón Bolívar, next to Calderón Park, in the Historical Center.
Street view of Tranvía de Cuenca
Street view from top deck, 2nd floor view. double decker bus in Cuenca, Ecuador

Bus station

Cuenca's interprovincial bus station, called the Terminal Terrestre as it is in most cities, is well organized and clean. It 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 city buses provide frequent service as indicated by the "Terminal Terrestre" placard on the windshield.

Buses arrive and depart throughout the day. Service is available to major cities, such as Guayaquil and Quito and also to nearby cities such as Loja, Riobamba, or Machala. The distance to Guayaquil is 243 km. and the bus takes nearly 4 hours on the highway Durán-Pto.Inca-Molleturo (I582W), a scenic ride through the Cajas National Park. Quito is 497 km from Cuenca, and the trip takes around 10 hours on the Pan-American Highway (I35N). Many prefer to travel by bus at night. Those who choose to travel overnight should exercise caution due to reported bus hijacks, which have resulted in armed robbery.[citation needed]

Airport

The airport, Aeropuerto Mariscal Lamar (

LATAM Ecuador
both fly to Quito. It is Ecuador's third-busiest airport, with over 1,400,000 passengers passing through its gates every year.

Tram

Main article: Cuenca Tramway

A tram/light rail line was completed in early 2019, and the tramway opened May 25, 2020. The line runs a total of 10.5 km.(7 miles) with 27 stations, starting at Cuenca Industrial Park in the north, crossing the Historic Center of Cuenca, and ending south at the entrance to Baños.[28]

Cuenca public transportation statistics

According to the Moovit Public Transport Index, Cuenca's bus system compares extremely favorably with other cities in Latin America. The average amount of time people spend commuting with public transit in Cuenca, for example to and from work, is 51 minutes on a weekday, with only 7% of public transit riders riding for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a bus stop or bus station for public transit is 11 minutes, while a mere 9% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is 3.8 km, while 0% travel for over 12 km in a single direction.[29] In 2018, the flat-rate bus fare is 30 US cents, with fares for children, students, seniors, and the disabled costing only 15 US cents.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in South America

Twin towns – Sister cities

Cuenca is

twinned
with:

See also

References

  1. ^ Citypopulation.de Population and area of Cuenca urban area
  2. ^ a b Marco Carrasco (21 September 2023). "Resultados Censo Ecuador: las 12 ciudades más pobladas del país". Ecuavisa website.
  3. ^ "TelluBase—Ecuador Fact Sheet (Tellusant Public Service Series)" (PDF). Tellusant. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  4. ^ Stephen Vargha (31 July 2023). "The Four Rivers Of Cuenca". YapaTree website.
  5. ^ Marco Carrasco (21 September 2023). "Visit Cuenca. Generalities". Municipal Tourism Foundation of Cuenca website.
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-1-47259-856-1
    .
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1-83947-441-5
    .
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-0-19-090803-4
    .
  9. ^ Antonio de Ulloa; Jorge Juan y Santacilia (1748). Relación histórica del viage. Hecho de orden de S. Mag. a la América Meridional para medir algunos grados del meridiano terreftre y venir por ellos en conocimiento de la verdadera figura y magnitud de la tierra y otras observaciones aftronómicas, y Phísicas. Historical Library of the Complutense University of Madrid: Antonio Marín. p. 656.
  10. UNESCO World Heritage
    Centre website.
  11. ^ Federico González Suárez (1891). Historia general de la república del Ecuador. Volume 2. p. 445.
  12. ^ Guamán Poma (1615). "Guaman Poma, Nueva corónica y buen gobierno (1615)". Royal Library, Denmark website. p. 1015.
  13. ^ Herlihy-Mera, Jeffrey (2018). "Where Are You Going? a Bus Ride Through the Languages of Ecuador". The Chronicle of Higher Education. July 16: 1. Archived from the original on 2019-12-03.
  14. ^ Jane Hiltbrand (24 July 2022). "Santuario Mariano del Carmen de la Asuncion Iglesia". architecturalcuenca.com.
  15. ISBN 9781631217180
    .
  16. ISBN 9788489569836
    .
  17. ^ "Who are the Cuenca expats? Why are they here? What is their impact?: Results of the City of Cuenca and United Nations Development Office study". 18 July 2017.
  18. ^ Netvoluciona. "Economía de la provincia de Cuenca". www.economiaprovincialcuenca.es. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  19. ^ "ECUADOR - CUENCA". Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-03. Retrieved 2015-09-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Cuenca Climate Guide, Ecuador". Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  22. ^ National Assembly of Ecuador. "Resolution that declares to Cuenca as 'City of Universities of the Republic of Ecuador'" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  23. ^ Council for Evaluation, Validation and Assurance of the Quality in Superior Education of Ecuador. "University Evaluation of 2013" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  24. ^ "Agenda Digital de las fiestas de Cuenca". El Tiempo. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  25. ^ Haines, Dena (11 March 2014). "Pork and Cuy: Street Food in Cuenca". GringosAbroad. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  26. ^ "Celebrations and gastronomy". Turismo Cuenca Ecuador. Fundacion Municipal Turismo Para Cuenca - Ecuador. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  27. ^ "Food & Drink in Ecuador". Frommer's. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Cuenca tramway opens". Metro Report International. DVV Media International Ltd. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  29. ^ "Cuenca Public Transportation Statistics". Global Public Transit Index by Moovit. Retrieved June 19, 2017. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
  30. ^ "Town Twinning Agreements". Municipalidad de Rosario - Buenos Aires 711. Archived from the original on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2014-10-14.

External links

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