Quito's old town lies on the eastern slope of Pichincha volcano, about 2,850 metres up and 25 km south of the equator. Founded in 1534 on the site of an Inca city, it was among the first World Heritage sites: whitewashed streets, stone church fronts, gilded interiors.
Articles
One Day in Quito: A Walkable Old-Town Itinerary (2026)
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Quito Travel Guide: Altitude, How Many Days, Getting Around, Safety (2026)
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What to Eat in Quito: An Ecuadorian Highland Food Guide (2026)
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How Quito's Old Town Kept Its Shape: A Grid Laid on a Mountain
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Guayasamín's Foundation: The Hill Where Ecuador's Modern Art Lives
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The Way the Water Runs: Reading Quito's Old Town from the Top Down
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The Aluminium Virgin of El Panecillo
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Why Ecuador Uses the US Dollar: A Surprising History
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Ecuador's Three Worlds: Coast, Andes, and Amazon
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Quito: One of the First Twelve World Heritage Sites
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Inside La Compañía: Quito's Baroque Church of Stone and Gold
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La Floresta: Quito's Bohemian Neighborhood Guide
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Best Self-Guided Walking Tours in Quito (2026)
Cultural·3 min
