Monument to the Middle of the World in Cayambe

Monument to the Middle of the World

Middle of the World Monument History

The monument has a historical value of great importance for the country and the canton Cayambe, at that point bequeathed the French geodesics in June 1736 and the results of their research are recorded in a large stone plate that is currently in the astronomical observatory of Quito.

It was an open-air public space known as "Plaza Bolívar", where they played the national ball and football. Due to the presence of beautiful young women, she changed her name to "Plaza de Las Hermosas".

After a while it became a coliseum, until in 1966 they were transformed into Spanish style architectural styles, making it one of the best bullfighting squares.

Every year, during the celebrations of San Pedro, in this amateur place they concentrate at a national and world level to enjoy the bullfights with recognized bullfighters, rejoneadores and bullfighters.

In the community of San Luis de Guachalá is the Monument to the Middle of the World, traditionally known as "the ball of the world", which consists of a stone globe of 1.80 m, sitting on a large concrete slab surrounded by a circumference of carved stone.

Location

Located 74 km from the city of Quito. It is in the Parish Cangahua.

Attractions

• Monument: A sphere built of stone on a large concrete slab surrounded by a stone periphery. Known as La Bola de Guachalá, it is a monument in honor of the equatorial line, it is on this line that divides the earth into two equal hemispheres: North and South. Anyone who comes to this place cannot avoid the temptation to stand in both hemispheres at the same time.
• Quito's sundial: It is a beautiful giant sundial.
• Solar Culture Museum: A place where audiovisual exhibitions are held on the importance of the Middle of the World, history, geography, archaeology, astronomy, geodesy and many other themes related to identity. This is a place with educational objectives.
• Quito This is Ecuador's first comprehensive work, which develops a wide range of works on the study and value of the concept of the Middle of the World that forms the basis of Ecuador's cultural identity. The project is developed by diverse activities, such as: Research, Protection of Cultural Heritage, Integrated Tourism and Self-management.

Rescuing society's self-esteem and improving archaeological sites are the project's priority objectives through publications, conferences and integrated tourism.

Nearby Attractions

• Parish of Cangahua: Outstanding for its millenary territory, in which the ancestors of Ecuador lived, making it the most important place of our prehistory.
• Guachalá Farm: for 12 years, the hacienda functions as a guest house. It has a series of places of cultural and scenic interest, two chapels, a museum and a tropical swimming pool.
• This attraction was used as a farm and home, but today it is used as a guest house. The tourist use that should be given should be disseminated and promoted, as it is an example of how to recover a farmhouse for a new use.