Quito celebrates 475 years of Spanish foundation

December 5, 2009

The historic and millenary city of Quito, ancient capital of the Quitu-Shyri Empire; later the Northern capital of the Inca Empire and since 1830, the capital of the Independent Republic of Ecuador is celebrating 475 years of its Spanish foundation.  Effectively, on December 6th, 1534, the Spanish conquistador, Sebastian de Benalcazar, officially founded the Most Noble and Most Loyal City of San Francisco de Quito.

As every year, the occasion was celebrated with a wide program of social, cultural, official, solemn, religious, festive and popular events which congregated thousands of local residents as well as visitors from all around Ecuador and from abroad. The festivities began with the election of the “Queen of the City”, an event which has evolved from the traditional format of a beauty pageant, to one where, in addition to beauty, the election involves a high responsibility in conducting for a whole year, an intense agenda of social activities and programs, aimed at helping the poorer, the elder, the children and those with limited capacities.

Several parades along a full week of celebrations provide the opportunity to present the best of Ecuador’s music, dance, folklore and creativity.  Beautifully decorated cars depict historic episodes, traditions and costumes…. School bands, contests and performers exert the best of their repertoires bringing exclamations of cheer and applause from the public. 

Extremely popular during these days are the “Chivas Quiteñas”, open-sided buses with popular brass bands atop them and cheerful crowds chanting, whistling, blowing horns and displaying an atmosphere of joy and happiness as they tour the most emblematic locations of the city.  The bars, cafés and restaurants teem with customers avid to enjoy lively music, dancing and into the wee hours fun…

Gastronomic festivals are staged at various locations throughout the city, providing additional options to sample the best and most renowned culinary typical dishes and local delicacies…  Museums, churches, convents and historic buildings are open until late, most of them offering free entrance and some of them only open to the public during these special occasions. 

The entire city becomes an open-air multiple stage where the common people, actors and visitors mix into one big party at the call of the ever louder “Viva Quito” (Long live Quito) shouts… The bullfights season, staged during nine consecutive days, is considered since at least a decade, the best in the Americas and attracts thousands of aficionados to the ancestral Spanish tradition of bullfights…

The magnificent capital, located on a naturally impressive and spectacular scenario, surrounded by green hills, mountains and snow covered volcanoes, visible from diverse city angles and stretching for more than 35 miles of length on a narrow and green winding valley, mixes such superb geographic setting with its Historic center, considered the largest and best preserved in Latin America, made of more than forty square blocks of centenary, narrow and steep streets, beautiful Spanish architecture, balcony laden houses, picturesque plazas, squares, fountains, monuments and majestic buildings, dominated by dozens of truly impressive cathedrals, churches, towers and domes…  No wonder, UNESCO declared Quito in 1978, the first city in the world with the title and all privileges of a World Cultural Heritage Site…

During the day, the city shines with the brightness of its closest stellar neighbor, the Sun, while, at night, the ornamental illumination of the towers, domes and monuments give the city a superlative aspect of grandeur, unparalleled in the world…  On this iconographic anniversary of the Spanish foundation, just 25 years away from the 500th anniversary, Quito has shown once more its touristic vocation and has given the visitors from the entire world an opportunity to appreciate its best characteristics, a unique blend of awesome nature, history, culture and the lively, hospitable and festive spirit of its inhabitants… Both locals and foreigners cannot resist joining in the choir of “Viva Quito’s” which prevail during these days…..