Latacunga

About

Founded by the Spanish in 1534, Latacunga was destroyed four times by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions between 1698 and 1798. Despite the threat of destruction, the indomitable people of Latacunga rebuilt each time. While most people only pass through Latacunga on their way to the Quilotoa Loop or Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, behind the sprawl by the Panamerican Highway, the city has a surprisingly charming historic center. At the Parque Vicente Léon you’ll find the elegant 17th century cathedral, which has an altar made from pumice, and the municipal palace, which is made entirely from the volcanic stone. The splendid Casa de los Marqueses de Miraflores mansion has been turned into a museum house exhibiting artworks and archaeological items discovered in the area. Every September, the city holds its Mama Negra festival to celebrate its indigenous, Spanish, and African heritage, and the Virgin who saved the town during the 1742 eruption.