Quito: World Cultural Heritage & Leading City in South America

The First UNESCO World Cultural Heritage City

Ecuador has received multiple honors at the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA), with its capital, Quito, recognized as South America's Leading City Destination.

Quito possesses the largest, most authentic, and best-preserved historic center in the Americas. In recognition of its outstanding universal value, Quito was named the very first World Cultural Heritage City by UNESCO in 1978.

Architectural & Heritage Masterpieces:

1. Church of La Compañía de Jesús Considered the crowning jewel of the Spanish-American Baroque style. Its volcanic stone facade was sculpted over 160 years, while its interior is adorned with **over seven tons of pure gold leaf** covering ceilings, columns, and ornate altarpieces.

2. Plaza and Convent of San Francisco The largest religious architectural complex in Latin America, occupying nearly two full city blocks. It houses more than **3,500 pieces of colonial art** from the celebrated *Quito School of Art (Escuela Quiteña)*.

3. Basílica del Voto Nacional The largest Neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas. Its towers rise to 377 feet (115 m), featuring stone gargoyles carved into the shapes of native Ecuadorian fauna, including Galapagos tortoises, iguanas, armadillos, and condors.

4. The Middle of the World (Ciudad Mitad del Mundo) Stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one foot in the Southern Hemisphere at latitude 0°0'0". Experience genuine equatorial physics demonstrations at the Intiñan Solar Museum.