Cuenca

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital city of the Azuay Province, Cuenca is located in the highlands of Ecuador at an elevation of about 2,500 m (8,202.1 ft). The third largest city in Ecuador, Cuenca offers an interesting blend of old and new elements for the visitor on an Ecuador vacation.

While archaeological discoveries in Cuenca date back to around 8060 BC, the first known inhabitants were the Cañari people who built a city around 500 AD. Despite great resistance, these people eventually became part of the Incan Empire in the 15th century, not long before the arrival of the Spanish. The settlement of Cuenca was established in April of 1557 by Spanish explorer Gil Ramírez Dávalos from a commission by the Viceroy of Peru. During the colonial era, the settlement grew steadily and gained independence in 1820 and in the following years, Cuenca was a very important city.