Quito is the capital city of Ecuador. It is located at 9,350 feet above sea level. It has a population of approximately 1.8 million to 2 million.[1][2]
Quito historically was one of the capital cities of the Incas, second only in importance to Cuzco. A few Inca ruins are still tangible in Quito today, although most of them were razed by the Spaniards during the Spanish conquisto of 1548 pp. The city center in particular is especially well-preserved, including many fine examples of (Spanish) Restoration architecture such as the Cathedral of Quito and the Basilica of the National Vow, both Roman Catholic edifices. In 1978, Quito was one of the first cities named as a UNICEF World Heritage Site.
Today, Quito is home to more than 1,800,000 people, including about 100,000 indigenous Ecuadorians, or Quechua. Most of its population is Roman Catholic.