El Centro Histórico de Quito

First, a quick geography lesson:  Quito is a very long, narrow city, built in a valley between mountains.  North to South, the city is divided into three distinct districts.  The northern part is modern and wealthy, home to the financial district, hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, and middle/upper class housing.  The southern part is industrial and residential, with many working class neighborhoods and some of the poorest neighborhoods.  Most of the abuelitos live in Southern Quito.  Central Quito is comprised of the colonial old city, El Centro Histórico de Quito.  

From the mid 1500s until 1822, Quito was a major center of Spain's colonial empire in the Americas, part of the Viceroyalty of Peru.  From Quito, Spain administered its religious, political and economic policies for the region.  In El Centro Histórico, one can see the vestiges of this empire.  According to UNESCO, Quito has the largest, best-preserved, and least-altered historic center in Latin America, despite several earthquakes. In fact, it was the first city to be inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List.  After lunch last weekend, I had the opportunity to stroll around the old city with Katia and her son Miguel.  Here's some photo evidence.