El
Chimborazo
The province
is perfect
for mountaineering.
There are
many people
who frequent
the slopes
of the huge
peak Chimborazo
. Tourists
come from
all over the
world to climb
its summit,
taking advantage
of the local
knowledge
and expertise
of professional
climbers such
as Marco Cruz
who has all
equipment
needed for
climbing and
skiing. Chimborazo
was first
climbed by
English mountaineer
Edward Whymper,
who succeeded
in reaching
the top in
1880.
The
Cathedral
of Riobamba
The cathedral
of Riobamba
is situated
in the park
near the monument
of the wise
Pedro Vicente
Maldonado
displaying
beauty and
originality.
The cathedral
was first
constructed
towards the
end 1797 after
the earthquake
which almost
left the province
in complete
ruins using
some of what
remained of
the the old
destroyed
church. In
1966 the Central
University
’s Architecture
Department
carried out
a historical
study on the
cathedral
analysing
the cathedral’s
architectural
value.
Museo de la
Concepcion
(Museum of
the Conception)
The Convent
of the Conception,
which was
reconstructed
at the end
of the 18
th century,
has today
been converted
into a museum.
It houses
an extraordinary
collection
of sculptures
and paintings
from the colonial
era. It also
exhibits a
precious jewel
which belonged
to the main
church, a
work of art
made with
gold, silver
and precious
stones created
in 1705.
Lake Colto
and the Balbanera
Lake Colta
is situated
on the Cicalpa
plain, where
one can go
trout fishing
or relax in
the thermal
baths of Chuquipogyo,
which, according
to legend,
were favoured
by Inca Huayna-Capac.
Close to Lake
Colto is the
church of
Balbanera
which was
apparently
the first
constructed
by the Spanish
on Ecuadorian
territory.
The church
is low-ceilinged
but beautiful
in its architectural
construction.
The facade
is made of
stone, and
the entrance
is a double
archway. The
church’s interior
has been restored
to its former
self in recent
years.
Sicalpa
and Cajabamba
The ancient
town of Culca
occupied the
areas currently
occupied by
parishes Cajabamba
and Sicalpa.
This was also
the spot where
Diego de Almagro
founded the
city of Santiago
de Quito .
The Inca Trail
crosses this
plain which,
during the
Inca era,
was the Tahuantinsuyo
communication
route.
The
Punin Discoveries
In the parish
of Punin,
some 7 km
from Riobamba
, Professor
Anthony discovered
an ancient
human skull
in the Chalan
ravine in
1923. In 1974,
Emilio Bonifaz
discovered
a skull extremely
similar to
that found
by Anthony.
These findings
lead archaeologists
to believe
that the first
inhabitants
in Ecuador
date back
further than
previously
estimated.
The skulls
and bones
found date
between l2,800
and 47,000
years old.
Markets
Chimborazo’s
main markets
take place
in Riobamba
on Saturdays
and also in
Cajabamba,
Guamote, Salaron,
Alausi and
Pallatanga.
The Friday
market in
Salaron is
the most curious.
Transactions
are negotiated
in Quichua
and the exchange
of goods and
foodstuffs
is used in
place of money.
Huigra
Towards the
south east
of Sibambe,
in the southern
confines of
the province
and near to
the lower
territory
of the coastal
areas is Huigra.
Huigra is
a community
with a railway
and train
station with
a railway
that crosses
the Riobamba
and Duran
lines. The
small population
has become
well-known
as a destination
for helping
those who
have heart
problems,
and is therefore
called ‘the
oasis of eternal
spring’.
Last
Updated 9th
August 2006
(DLW)
