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Latest Cuenca hotel reviews
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Museo del Banco Central is a big museum with many interesting exhibitions, and it is absolutely worth a visit. Upstairs there is a section where traditions, daily life and costumes of Ecuador’s many indigenous cultures are presented. There are also some shrunken heads on display and in one room there are Tigua paintings. On the ground floor there is an archaeological section with pre-Colombian pottery and other artefacts, many which have been found at the nearby Tomebamba. On the ground floor there is also an exhibition of religious paintings and downstairs there are old Ecuadorian money on display.
Behind the museum are the ruins of what is believed to be remnants of Tomebamba, an old Inca city. It was already in ruins when the Spaniards arrived and they used much of the stones from the ruins for buildings in Cuenca. Below the hill, towards the river, there is a lovely garden with Ecuadorian plants.
You are not allowed to take photos inside the museum but must leave your camera and bag in a locker behind the counter at the reception.
There was no admission to the museum. It is open between 9 - 18 on Mondays - Fridays and between 9 - 13 on Saturdays.
Written Dec 8, 2011
Address: Calle Larga
Phone: 07 - 283 1255
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The river running through Cuenca is called Río Tomebamba and you will find the old town on the north side of it. The shores of the river is lined with green grass where you often can see people sitting and relaxing. On the cliff on the north side of the river there are many big colonial houses. Houses in this neighbourhood El Barranco, is often referred to as hanging houses, because it seems they are hanging out from the cliff. From Calle Larga that runs parallel to Río Tomebamba on the other side of the houses there are stairs leading down to Avenida 3 de Noviembre, a quiet street running beside the river. It is nice to take a walk along the river here.
Written Nov 23, 2011
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The Old Cathedral, El Sagrario, is situated on the east side of Parque Calderon. Construction of the church begun already in 1557, the same year Cuenca was founded, and for the foundation and the walls stones from the ruins of nearby Tomebamba was used.
The cathedral has three naves with a central altar. In front of the central alter there are life-size statues of Jesus and the apostles. Through a glass window in the church you can see a small part of the catacombs below, with some skulls.
The Old Cathedral is now a religious museum. It also houses concerts and other cultural events.
The museum is open between 9 - 13 and 14 - 18 on Monday - Friday, and between 10 - 13 on Saturday - Sunday.
Admission was $1 (July 2011).
Written Nov 10, 2011
Address: Corner of Mariscal Sucre and Luís Cordero
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A few blocks northeast of Parque Calderón, by Plaza Rotary, is the indoor Mercado Municipal (Mercado 9 de Octubre). It is a market on three levels where you can find fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, bread, cheese and much more. Here you can also buy cheap meals, fresh fruit juices and smoothies. Even if you’re not interested in buying anything it is worth a visit just to stroll around and watch daily life and the colourful products.
Another indoor market where you can find about the same things as at Mercado Municipal is Mercado 10 de Agosto. It is situated a few blocks south west of Parque Calderón, in the corner of Calle Larga and Torres.
Written Nov 9, 2011
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Parque Calderón is Cuenca’s main square. It is a nice park with lots of flowers and trees and many benches where you can sit down to rest and watch people. The park is named after Abdón Calderón, a young man from Cuenca who fought bravely at the battle of Pichincha in 1822. There is a monument in the park dedicated to Calderón.
On the west side of Parque Calderón you will find the New Cathedral (Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción) and on the east side is the Old Cathedral. On the south side you will find the Town Hall. There are also several restaurants and cafés to be found by the park.
Written Nov 9, 2011
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There is a small flower market held every day in front of Iglesia del Carmen de la Asuncion , an old church dating from 1682. The market is held on the small square Plazoleta del Carmen and here the white façade of the church makes a nice background to the colourful flowers.
Written Nov 8, 2011
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Cuenca’s second biggest church Iglesia de Santo Domingo is situated in the corner of Gran Colombia and Padre Aguirre. The church has two tall bell towers and the façade, which is illuminated at night, is whitewashed with pillars with geometrical patterns.
Inside the church there are paintings from the 18th century and there are some nice carved wooden doors. Iglesia de Santo Domingo is not a very old church but was built in the beginning of the 20th century.
Written Nov 8, 2011
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On the mountainside, about 4km south of Cuenca city centre, is the viewpoint Mirador de Turi. From here you will get a splendid view over the city and the valley below. I have read that around sunset is a good time to visit, to first see the sky change colours and then all the city lights that appear. However, I visited earlier in the afternoon and it was a grey day so there wouldn’t have been a nice sunset.
I came here with the sightseeing bus from Cuenca. Before the bus returned to the city I had time to visit the church (Iglesia de Turi), do a short walk and have a look in a couple of souvenir shops. There are also places where you can have something to eat. It is not a quiet place as loud music came from loudspeakers on the slope above.
Written Nov 5, 2011
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I wanted to visit Mirador de Turi and first thought of walking there, but then changed my mind and took the sightseeing bus that goes there. The sightseeing bus leaves from Parque Calderon and makes a two hours tour of Cuenca., and there is a guide on the bus giving information about places that the bus passes. At Mirador de Turi the bus stops for some time so you will be able to see the church, view and visit a souvenir shop. If you want to stay longer you can always wait for the next sightseeing bus, as the ticket is valid the whole day. The sightseeing tour cost $5 (July 2011).
Written Nov 5, 2011
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Cuenca Museum of Modern Art is housed in an old building situated on the south side of Plaza de San Sebastián. The building dates from 1876 and has been a House of Temperance.
At the museum you can see contemporary paintings and sculptures made by Ecuadorian and other Latin American artists. The art is displayed in the gardens and in different rooms around the courtyards. I think I missed a large part of the collection as many doors were closed when I walked around and not many rooms were open.
Written Nov 5, 2011
Address: Mariscal Sucre y Talbot
Phone: 07 - 283 1027
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