"Quito's inhabitants date from pre Columbian times, the city taking its name from these original indigenous people, who were called Quitus. During the 13th century Quito became a major Inca centre before falling into ruin. The present city, built on these ruins, was started by the Spanish in 1534. Thanks to UNESCO making Quito one of the world's cultural heritage sites in 1978, this fascinating, largely unspoilt old city, is now protected, forcing any new developments to be made towards the airport in the north. 
 
Though Quito is only 18 miles from the equator, because of its high altitude of around 2850 metres, I found its climate quite a fresh and pleasant one in which to walk about and sightsee. Quito is the 3rd highest capital city in the world." - MH