Ibarra, Ecuador
Encyclopedia
Ibarra is a city in northern Ecuador
and the capital of the Imbabura Province. It lies at the foot of the Imbabura Volcano
and on the left bank of the Tahuando river. It is about 70 kilometres (43.5 mi) northeast of Ecuador's capital Quito
.
. Many churches and public buildings were built, but an earthquake in 1868
destroyed many of them. The Inca ruler Atahualpa
was born in the Inca settlement of Caranquí about 2 km from the city.
Helados de paila (handmade ice cream
or sorbet and still sold in the markets today) was first made in Ibarra during Incan times (but not by Incas; by the native indigenous), using snow or ice from the nearby Imbabura Volcano
(which is no longer snow bound). Using a large bronze pan surrounded by ice shavings, the juices of various fruits are stirred into the pan to freeze.
The city was founded twice. The first time, in 1606, was by mandate of the Royal Audience of Quito
. A devastating earthquake on 16 August 1868 forced the city to be re-founded in 1872. Based on its newest date of foundation, Ibarra is the youngest city in Ecuador.
town popular with tourists
. It has mild weather, colonial white-washed houses (giving it the nickname The White City), and cobbled streets. The Santa Domingo church houses a museum holding paintings. The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ibarra
.
Markets are on Saturdays, and the main festival
is the Fiesta de los Lagos, which is held on the last weekend of September. Also, two colorful parades known as El Pregón and Virgen del Carmen are held on 16 July every year.
Other town attractions are the many restaurants specializing in local cuisine
, along with the clubs, discos and a paragliding
club.
Sister City- Winchester, Kentucky
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and the capital of the Imbabura Province. It lies at the foot of the Imbabura Volcano
Imbabura Volcano
Imbabura is an inactive stratovolcano in northern Ecuador. Although it has not erupted for at least 14,000 years, it is not thought to be entirely extinct. Imbabura is intermittently capped with snow and has no permanent glaciers....
and on the left bank of the Tahuando river. It is about 70 kilometres (43.5 mi) northeast of Ecuador's capital Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
.
History
Ibarra was founded in 1606 by the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Many churches and public buildings were built, but an earthquake in 1868
1868 Ecuador earthquakes
The 1868 Ecuador earthquakes occurred at 19:30 UTC on August 15 and 06:30 UTC on 16 August 1868. They caused severe damage in the northeastern part of Ecuador and in southwestern Colombia. They had an estimated magnitude of 6.3 and 6.7 and together caused up to 70,000 casualties...
destroyed many of them. The Inca ruler Atahualpa
Atahualpa
Atahualpa, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa, or Atawallpa , was the last Sapa Inca or sovereign emperor of the Tahuantinsuyu, or the Inca Empire, prior to the Spanish conquest of Peru...
was born in the Inca settlement of Caranquí about 2 km from the city.
Helados de paila (handmade ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
or sorbet and still sold in the markets today) was first made in Ibarra during Incan times (but not by Incas; by the native indigenous), using snow or ice from the nearby Imbabura Volcano
Imbabura Volcano
Imbabura is an inactive stratovolcano in northern Ecuador. Although it has not erupted for at least 14,000 years, it is not thought to be entirely extinct. Imbabura is intermittently capped with snow and has no permanent glaciers....
(which is no longer snow bound). Using a large bronze pan surrounded by ice shavings, the juices of various fruits are stirred into the pan to freeze.
The city was founded twice. The first time, in 1606, was by mandate of the Royal Audience of Quito
Royal Audience of Quito
The Royal Audience of Quito was an administrative unit in the Spanish Empire which had political, military, and religious jurisdiction over territories that today include Ecuador, parts of northern Peru, parts of southern Colombia and parts of northern Brazil...
. A devastating earthquake on 16 August 1868 forced the city to be re-founded in 1872. Based on its newest date of foundation, Ibarra is the youngest city in Ecuador.
Modern Day Ibarra
Today, Ibarra is a marketMarket
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
town popular with tourists
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. It has mild weather, colonial white-washed houses (giving it the nickname The White City), and cobbled streets. The Santa Domingo church houses a museum holding paintings. The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ibarra
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ibarra
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ibarra is a diocese located in the city of Ibarra in the Ecclesiastical province of Quito in Ecuador.-Leadership:*José Ignacio Checa y Barbo *Antonio Tommaso Yturalde...
.
Markets are on Saturdays, and the main festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
is the Fiesta de los Lagos, which is held on the last weekend of September. Also, two colorful parades known as El Pregón and Virgen del Carmen are held on 16 July every year.
Other town attractions are the many restaurants specializing in local cuisine
Cuisine
Cuisine is a characteristic style of cooking practices and traditions, often associated with a specific culture. Cuisines are often named after the geographic areas or regions that they originate from...
, along with the clubs, discos and a paragliding
Paragliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
club.
Sister City- Winchester, Kentucky