Todd Borgie reporting from Quito, Ecuador: A visit to Quito   Quito, the capital of Ecuador is situated on the lower slopes of the Pichincha volcano in a narrow, fertile valley of the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 2850 m (9350 ft) above sea level. Because of its elevation it has a pleasant, moderate climate despite being just south of the equator. Like their inhabitants, cities change over time. Sometimes the old is preserved, sometimes it is torn down and rebuilt, and sometimes new buildings are built to change the face of the city. Family photo albums can show how fashion changes in people over a short time period. The city of Quito was named for some of its older inhabitants, the Quitus people. After a series of conflicts during the 15th century, it became an Inca city, under the rule of the famous Inca leader Atahualpa. After the Spanish came battles ensued between the Spanish and the Incas, however the Spanish were able to capture Atahualpa, the leader of the Incas and ultimately execute him. Fighting continued after the capture and execution Atahualpa, and Quito became one of the final causalities of the Spanish/Inca conflict. The city was razed by one of Atahualpa’s generals, Ruminyahui, as he thought that razing the city would be better than having it fall into the hands of the Spanish. When the Spanish gained control in 1534, they had to begin from scratch with the construction of a brand new city. It was during this time that many of the Spanish baroque buildings, that can still be seen in Quito, were built. Notable structures include a 17th-century cathedral and the churches of San Francisco, San Augustin, La Compañía, and Santo Domingo. These structures remain standing today and much of the old part of town is preserved, although it is much different than it was 400 hundred years ago. Throughout the last 400 plus years Quito has been faced with earthquakes, fires, and many other factors of change that affect cities. As cities grow and change the old parts are not always kept intact. For instance, the house of Antonio Sucre (who was one of Simon Bolivar’s generals and leaders of Independence for Ecuador), which still stands, has lost its surrounding buildings and grounds. At one time the residence took up a city block; now it has been reduced to one small building occupying only a small portion of what it used to occupy. Currently it is flanked by larger brick buildings that serve as centers for commerce in the old city. The church of San Francisco is amazingly well preserved, despite the elements it has had withstand. This cathedral is home to some amazing relics from the Vatican, such as a wax-covered body of a 2nd century child martyr, and an outstanding collection of religious art that combines Ecuadorian environments with traditional Christian motifs. It was amazing to see how the native artists incorporated their ideas, methods and surroundings into traditional Christian settings. For instance, there was an amazing Mary and Jesus shrine the included images of many of Jesus’ relatives, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. This was a great example of how strong family were in Ecuadorian culture. Many times old buildings are destroyed to make way for the new buildings. Old buildings are difficult to renovate, and it is often more costly to restore them than rebuild them. Quito has done an amazing job of bringing in the new and preserving the old. Preserving the old city, yet making way for the new, Quito has built up new town which boasts of skyscrapers and other modern features of a city. Both parts are bustling with commerce and seem to exist almost seamlessly together. Sometimes when a city is developing, architects try to preserve the past by building new buildings in an old style. The construction of the National Cathedral was begun in 1926. This Gothic structure looks more like a building from the 13th century than something that was built in the 20th century. As a visitor you can climb to the highest pinnacle to see and outstanding view of the city and its mountainous cradle. To help preserve Quito’s old treasures UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural, Organization) has declared Quito a World Heritage Center, and therefore Quito is entitled to special funds that help to preserve its historical character. 1) What is the oldest building in your town? 2) When was your town founded? 3) Does your town have any historical monuments? Who takes care of them? 4) Do you know when your own house was built? 5) Where can you find public art in your town?