Azogues

Azogues on the map of Ecuador

Azogues ( long form: San Francisco de Pelengui de Azogues ) is a town in Ecuador. It is the capital of the province has 31 151 inhabitants and Cañar ( 2005). Azogues is located on the Panamerican Highway near Cuenca at an altitude of 2,518 m.

The territory of the province of Cañar was originally inhabited by the Canary, conquered in the 15th century by the Incas and 1533/34 by Spanish conquistadors under Sebastian de Belalcázar. The Canary allied themselves with the Spaniards. Azogues was created on the basis of a since the discovery of mercury deposits in 1558 forming mining settlement. This was awarded in 1562 by the Spanish governor of Quito, Gil Ramirez Davalos, the status of a asiento and the name of San Francisco de Peleusí del Azogue. Azogue called on Spanish mercury and Peleusí was the traditional name of the area. 1771 settlement to the secular parish was charged. In 1820 it reached its independence from the Spanish colonizers. In Great Colombia and since 1830 in Ecuador Azogues was first capital of a canton of the present province of Azuay, before 1880 as the capital of the province Azogues Azogues was established, which was later renamed Cañar.

The city now has a very well preserved colonial architecture ensemble, from which protrudes the Cathedral on the Plaza Mayor. The portrait Marie Virgen de la Nube (Eng. " Virgin of the cloud" ), a major pilgrimage destination in Ecuador, is preserved in the church of San Francisco in the east of the city. Ten kilometers from the town is the archaeological site Cojitambo.

The economy of the area is agriculturally oriented. The region of the provinces of Azuay and Cañar is also known weaving of so-called Panama hats, and for arts and crafts pottery.