12 Ecuadors capital is a modern city with a long and fascinating history. At the time of the Spanish conquest of the Andes, Quito was the second-most important city in the Inca Empire after Cusco. The city is proud of its heritage and its intriguing Old Town, the ? rst to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and today beautifully restored. Visitors adore this extensive neighbourhood with its churches, museums, curio shops and hidden patios, while also enjoying the ? rst-class hotels, restaurants, parks and culture of its modern quarters. Just north of Quito, the equatorial line girdles the Earth, pinpointed by the French scientists in the 18th century who visited Ecuador. Todays readings show the French were slightly off but still remarkably accurate, and later archaeological ? nds indicate that the ancient dwellers of this land knew the exact spot all along. A monument housing an ethnographic museum marks the Equator, and the Middle of the World complex features restaurants, a display honouring the French scientists, and further museums. Take the obligatory ‘was here photo with a foot in each hemisphere! Quito & The Equator La Compañía Church and Colonial Quito by night