Because Cuenca’s location is in a valley, it is a gifted city for the strong presence of nature. Mountains enclose the whole city with four winding rivers that cross Cuenca. This natural beauty is complemented by the presence of Cuenca’s buildings. The city displays rich architecture dating from many different cultures. Among them, Incan and Spanish. The moment you arrive in the city you’ll notice that an endless number of church domes form a kind of skyline that surrounds the city. UNESCO declared Cuenca a World Heritage Cultural Site in 1999 to protect its original flavor. Within this frame, the year is filled with local festivities and events.
For all these reasons, Cuenca is said to be the most beautiful colonial city in Ecuador. It’s true that it shares some of the architectural atmosphere of Quito. Yet, in Cuenca the pace of life is slower and quieter since it retains the enjoyable feeling of a provincial city. Apart from the colonial aspect of its narrow streets, houses, and public monuments, Cuenca holds an undisputable reputation for being a university city. On the whole, it houses eight universities, the University of Cuenca being the oldest and most traditional, with a student population of more than 12,000. This feature adds up to the whole flair of the city, since it combines the energy and vitality of youth with the soul of a historical city.
