The City of Cuenca

An enchanting city, full of colonial charm, beautiful plazas and grand churches.  For a spectacular view, climb the Loma de Turi (Turi Hill) from where one can observe the beautiful river Yanuncay and the streams branching into the landscape.    The new cathedral with its blue domes and spacious marbled interior is certainly eye-catching.  The new generation of architects have contributed to the buliding if the city's modern sector.  Old cobbled streets, colonial one-storey houses with thatched roofs, quaint courtyards and gardens all contribute to Cuenca's urban charm that radiates throughout the city.  Poetry, art and culture continue to flourish throughout the city's streets.  The saying goes that everything Cuencan is poetic, this is evident in the way that the inhabitants speak and the tone of voice they use.  This truly is a town of writers, poets, artists, journalists, teachers, politicians and diplomats.  Cuenca is also renowned for its museums, such as the Modern Art Museum (Museo de Arte Moderno) for instance, Claustro de las Conceptas, the Remigio Crespo Toral museum, the old cathedral and the Banco Central museum.  In 1987 Cuenca held its first art competition, attracting artists from all over the continent. 

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El Barranco and Pumapungo

El Barranco is a sector mainly consisting of residential bulidings situated towards the northern river banks of the River Tomebamba.    It is one of the most important areas in Cuenca's historic centre due to its value as an archaeological site.  Vestiges of the old Inca town Tomebamba which previously occupied some 40 or 50 hectares of the land were discovered here in 1923 by archaeologist Max Uhle.  The urban centre of this town was Pumapungo where the town's main plaza apparently stood.  Pumapumgo can be visited today and continues to be an object of investigation and interest as Tomebamba is considered as having been one of the main urban centres of the Inca empire.  According to the history books, Tomebamba was destroyed by Inca Atahualpa as punishment for the help that the Canari gave to Huascar.  One of the most attractive sights in Cuenca is the banks of the River Tomebamba surrounded by weeping willows, where one can listen to the soothing sounds of its waters. 

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Museo del Banco Central (Banco Central Museum)

The Banco Central constitutes quite a collection of precious artefacts.  The museum began with the ethnographic collection of Senor Luis Moscoso Vega, later it bought Victor Manuel Albornoz's collection and finally the Salesian collection belonging to Caros Crespi.   Adding to these collections are vestiges from the Tuncahan, Casmal and Negativo del Carchi cultures and also findings in Pumapungo.  The museum also houses the Departamento Eduardo Infantil (Eduardo Children's Department) which includes a workshop, hall and children's library.  The photographic collection is also particularly interesting. 

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Cajas Region

This region, extending some 28,000 hectares is a national protected area.  It became famous due to the apparent sightings of the Virgin Mary which has consequently provoked pilgramages to the sight by thousands of devoted catholics. 

Outside Cuenca the neighbourhood of San Sebastian is situated, which arrives at Sayausi where the old road to Guayaquil was located.  Arriving closer towards the paramo the landscape takes on a different form and the road has a series of bends.  Lakes of all shapes and sizes can be observed from the roadside, those such as Lulluchas, Luspas, Trencillas, Canutillos and Toreadora.  All of these lakes are excellent for fishing. 

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Parties, food and drink

Some of the parties and festivals which take place in the region have become so popular that they now attract visitors from all over.  Worth mentioning are the Festival of the Peach in Gualaceo (March), the Festival of the Guinea Pig in Ricaute (February) Festival of the Sugar Cane in Santa Isabel (September) and possibly the most important the Festival of the Child (el Pase del Nino) in Cuenca in December. 

With regards to food and drink, there is a great variety in the region.  Guinea Pig is a traditional dish, served with potatoes, Quinua soup, Chicken soup, mote (white Andean corn), tortillas, pork crackling, llapingachos (cheese and potato cakes) and sweet figs with cream cheese among other specialities.  At Easter, a special soup made with fish, grains and lentils Fanesca is traditional, as in other regions in the country, and in carnival mote pata is traditioanlly eaten. 

Last Updated 26th July 2006 (DLW)

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