Guaranda

Guaranda is a city in Ecuador. It has about 25,000 inhabitants and is the capital of the province of Bolívar. Since it is located at about 2,650 meters above sea level between seven hills (San Jacinto, Loma de Guaranda, San Bartolo, Cruzloma, Tililac, Talalac and El Mirador ), it is referred to as the " Rome of Ecuador ".

Guaranda was founded in 1534 by Sebastián de Belalcázar at the site of a settlement the Chimbo whose residents had resisted the advancing from the coast, Pedro de Alvarado, the main competitors Benalcázars to the conquest of the Andean region around present-day Quito. In colonial times Guaranda belonged to Corregimiento Chimbo that the Real Audiencia de Quito and the Viceroyalty of New Granada was under. 1775 Guaranda was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and after its reconstruction seat of Corrigimiento Chimbo. From the early 19th century until the completion of the railway line Guayaquil - Quito early 20th century Guaranda was an important way station on the road between the two main cities of Ecuador. Guaranda is about 60 km or an hour bus ride from Riobamba away.

In Ecuador, the city is known for its carnival in which the custom of Carnival jokes is conducted in more extreme way than usual. Unlike in most other cities of Ecuador you will be splashed in Guaranda not only with water but must not hurt on the flour, eggs and other things, but fly well, set.

Be found on the days before and after the big carnival parade in Riobamba where most tourists, both from Ecuador as well as from other countries.

Guaranda is the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese founded in 1957 Guaranda.