Mystical Quito: Legends, History & Chocolate Review

Quito, is that one captivating capital nestled high in the Andes Mountains, and it calls to those wanderers searching for a unique mixture of history, culture, and tantalizing tastes. The town bursts with so much captivating legends whispered through time, its wonderful historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, plus, surprise, it has fantastic chocolate that might send your taste buds into overdrive. This review opens doors to explore Quito a bit closer, it will hopefully bring you amazing tips, and, very, very much encourage you to experience the magic of this South American jewel.

Unearthing Quito’s Rich Historical Past

Oh, Quito’s story is quite impressive, is not it? It began centuries ago as, possibly, an ancient Indigenous settlement. Before the Incas took control, Quito was inhabited by people known as the Quitu-Cara civilization. In 1534, Spanish conquistadors made their grand entrance and established Quito as they saw fit, they transformed it into, more or less, a pivotal hub for colonial administration and also for spreading Christianity.

When visiting, spending time in the “Old Town” is very, very important. You can take a relaxed stroll along the pretty cobblestone streets, so soaking up all that colonial architecture and feeling the beat of history at every corner. The Plaza Grande, that very vibrant central square, really acts like the historical core of Quito. Surrounded by really significant buildings, that, I guess, include the Presidential Palace and the Quito Cathedral, that location provides a powerful picture of the city’s past as it happened.

The Iglesia de San Francisco is arguably one location one just should not pass on! Said to be amongst Quito’s most grand places of worship, it’s a great demonstration of architecture. With its origins traced back to the 16th century, it’s the oldest and, potentially, largest building having a colonial architecture in South America. With every art detail inside the church you will be astonished, each reflects artistic elements from different cultures throughout the years. Another jewel of Old Town is the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús which has some amazing designs and sculptures. If that’s what interests you, you should check it out.

Delving into Quito’s Mystical Legends

Quito isn’t all about historic spots and gorgeous cathedrals; it’s even a treasure chest of very fascinating legends that have been passed on orally from one generation to another. One pretty prominent myth refers to the treasure of Atahualpa, an Inca leader. From stories I’ve come to know, once Atahualpa understood that he was gonna be killed at the hands of Spanish conquerors, he made a deal with them. Atahualpa pledged that he would give the conquerors rooms piled with gold and silver so he could secure his freedom.

So the legend is that tons of gold came down to secure Atahualpa’s freedom, but, honestly, before they managed to load all of it, the leader got killed. Distressed and disheartened after learning that their Inca leader was assassinated, people hid the treasure someplace within the mountains. Countless efforts have been attempted across generations to uncover Atahualpa’s loot, that’s so amazing to learn about!

Another story I remember is that of Cantuña, is about a local Indigenous guy that was tasked with making the atrio (courtyard) of San Francisco. When under immense stress, Cantuña allegedly signed a contract to turn his spirit over to the devil should he prove incapable of accomplishing this project by a certain agreed date. As the agreement’s closing time approached, so it’s told that Cantuña took away one rock, to cause the work to not be totally finished, outsmarting the devil himself.

A Chocolate Lover’s Paradise: Sampling Quito’s Sweetest Treats

Oh, I almost forgot!, your outing to Quito would not be over until one appreciates the city’s really tempting chocolate arena. Ecuador can easily pride itself on getting, reportedly, one of the globe’s highest grade cacao, referred to as “Arriba.” And surprise, Quito functions like a fantastic place to try it.

There, a lot of boutique chocolatiers exist, ready and more than willing to tempt your senses. These spots source their cacao from a number of areas in Ecuador. Afterward, these get processed to produce the finest handmade chocolate goodies, isn’t it wonderful? From nutty chocolate bars to wonderful truffles to divine warm cocoa, any passionate chocolate fanatic will likely find their nice little portion of cocoa pleasure.

When you are really interested in immersing deeper in that world of chocolate, you can think about going on that cacao plantation. All these experiences frequently are the most effective to discover chocolate manufacturing practices directly while getting yourself immersed into the unique fragrance emitted at the factory. Obviously, there usually are possibilities to relish numerous cacao varieties along the process, this only causes it to be further pleasing.

Quito Travel Tips and Recommendations

As it happens, there is some stuff one must factor in for getting the best from your sojourn within Quito:

1. Altitude Sickness: Given its considerable altitude, some guests may feel altitude discomfort. So be sure you permit yourself time, relax when you can, keep on hydrating well, and, may be, dodge engaging in physically difficult pursuits when you come for the first time.
2. Security: When it comes to city parts, especially in congested areas, it really is advisable to stay on high alert of what’s going on surrounding you to prevent becoming robbed or suffering tiny criminal acts. Always have that in your head!
3. Transport: Quito presents one effective public transport, allowing for ease in city explorations. Take advantage of legitimate taxi providers, particularly if going someplace in the nights.
4. Dialect: Though many individuals employed within the tourist sector will more than happily converse in English, trying out certain fundamental Spanish sayings definitely will greatly boost contact with neighborhood residents.
5. Activities: Don’t skip exploring other neighboring destinations by means of examples just like the Mitad del Mundo, at what position you’ll find yourself standing exactly at the Equator or even venture outside into cloud forests found throughout Mindo.

Planning Your Mystical Quito Trip

Now, setting up a trip over to Quito, could it be thrilling! Initial, weigh which phase to check out is suitable; there really is Quito presenting pretty continual climate types every twelve months with temperatures averaging around from that of the mid-’60s degrees Fahrenheit region. Many explorers decide upon voyaging when from June to August or alternatively spanning between December to January, the instance in which weather generally turns dry suited with exploration.

While scouting that ideal place in which to rest up, it may prove insightful exploring accommodations right in both ‘Old Town’ yet even ‘New Town’ vicinity, where most folks love to spend their vacation time. ‘Old Town’ definitely gets praised with respect to highlighting historical significance coupled together close range toward various tourist lures; at the same time, ‘New Town’ tends to show the contemporary edge featuring a number of resorts coupled also restaurants at hand.

Ultimately, allocate no less than, say, approximately three to five days for experiencing properly to both significant traveler draws combined together appreciating local Quito way. So from discovering amazing cathedrals directly inside atmospheric byways, equally one taste tasting decadent Ecuadorian chocolates really would give every person long cherished impressions pertaining toward its majestic treasure trove, I believe it would!