Quito, considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Western Hemisphere, has an astonishing location -more than a mile sea level, nestled in the Andes Mountains beneath the sparkling snow-cone of the Pichincha mountain, and almost directly on the equator! Among the most impressive of the capital's architectural treasures is La Compania Church, whose richly carved facade is the most ornate in the city and whose interior is a daze of golden altars, gilded columns and balconies. Hues of gold also shine on the altars and ceilings of San Francisco Cathedral, one of the first great religious buildings in the continent. Sculpture and paintings produced by the "Escuela Quiteña"- the school of native artists trained by the church friars- decorate the walls with traditional religious subjects mingling with pagan symbols. 

The Church of San Agustin, Santo Domingo Church, the Basilica of La Merced, and the newly restored Convent of San Diego are other outstanding examples of the magnificence of Quito's spiritual fortress. The city's rich legacy is also on view at the National Museum of Colonial Art, the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana (with its fascinating assemblage of musical instruments and modern art) and the Jacinto Jijon y Caamano collection of colonial art (which is housed at the Catholic University). Colonial pieces are the most modern of the artifacts in the Banco Central's Archaeological Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of native ceramics dating back to 10,000 B.C. Specially trained, multilingual guides take visitors through the grand displays of every day and ceremonial objects of gold, stone, cloth and wood. 

Quito is a city for walkers who wish to savor the city’s charm and calm; Because of the altitude, and the roller-coaster topography of the capital, take a taxi from section to section-to the narrow cobble-stoned streets of the old city, for example. They are full of history; doted with spacious plazas, bustling with hawkers selling fruit, ice cream and chocolate; brighten by flower vendors. Strolling down, rather than up, the most vertical incline of the oldest street, La Ronda, one catches the feeling of 16th-century Quito, a city of red-tile roofs, whitewashed walls, and heavy wooden doors with inset grilles offering a peephole to flowering and fountained courtyards.

When the Spaniards departed, they left behind a vast collection of colonial art and superb churches whose interiors shine with the glitter of gold. This rich treasury of religious architecture and decorative arts. was recognized several years ago when UNESCO proclaimed Quito a "Cultural Patrimony of Mankind".

Restaurants are often housed in former old family mansions. A good, refreshing local drink should precede a tasty lunch or dinner featuring Ecuadorian specialties or international cuisine. After dinner entertainment in Quito includes a choice of lively discotheques, casino gambling, or drinks along with native music of the Andean highlands, served up at informal clubs called "penas". 

When staying in Quito, the 15 mile drive north to the equator is a must on every itinerary. The monument at the middle of the world, located right on latitude 0 degrees, provides the irresistible opportunity to straddle both hemispheres. From the top, the monument also offers a grand view of the Andean landscape