The City of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in 1534 on the ruins of an Incan city. Isolated in the Andes Mountains, it sits at an elevation of 9,350 feet and near Pichincha, an active volcano with the latest minor eruption recorded in 1999. Despite this nearby volcano and the numerous earthquakes over the course of history, the city is the best-preserved and least-altered historic center in Latin America. It offers remarkable examples of architecture, sculptures and paintings that bring together indigenous and European traditions.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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