This article is about the city in Ecuador. For the New York City nightclub, seeRiobamba (nightclub).
Riobamba(Spanish pronunciation:[rjoˈβamba],full nameSan Pedro de Riobamba;Quechua:Rispampa) is the capital ofChimborazo Provincein centralEcuador,and is located in theChambo RiverValley of theAndes.[2]It is located 200 km (120 mi) south of Ecuador's capitalQuitoand situated at an elevation of 2,754 m.
From top, left to right:Panoramic view of the city, monument to Pedro Vicente Maldonado, sculpture of Neptune, Primera Constituyente Street,Catedral de San Pedro,monument to Edmundo Chiriboga, Maldonado High School, Riobamba railway station, Chimborazo volcano and Monumental Raúl Dávalos bullring.
The city is an important regional transport center and a stop on thePan-American Highway,which runs through Ecuador. Riobamba is one of the largest cities in the central portion of Ecuador's Sierra region.
The region surrounding Riobamba was inhabited by thePuruhánation before the advance of theInca Empireduring the late 15th century. The Puruha fiercely resisted the Inca efforts to conquer the north of today's Ecuador. The IncaHuayna Capachad to make an alliance in order to pacify the tribes who sided with Condorazo, the general of the Puruha nation.
He allied with the Schyris confederation, also known as the Caran-Quitu people, believed to have developed theKingdom of Quitoin the northern Andes. The 18th-century Jesuit historianJuan de Velascodescribed this confederation as a group of tribes ruled by the Duchicela dynasty. Huayna Capac took the princess Paccha as his wife and gave special treatment and social status privileges to the higher castes of these new subjects. The son of this alliance wasAtahualpa,who served as the last king of the Inca.
Following the Spanish invasion and conquest of the Inca and their allies, Riobamba was founded on 15 August 1534 in the San Miguel plains byDiego de Almagro.It is considered the first city to be established in what is modern-day Ecuador.[3]: 341 In 1563, the city became part of theSpanish Empire's newly formedRoyal Audience of Quito.
Although the city was completely destroyed by anearthquake in 1797,it was rebuilt a few years later 14 km (8.7 mi) from its original location. The second site was near a village namedCajabambaon the plains of San Antonio de Aguíscate. The city still retains much architecture from the Spanish colonial period. During theEcuadorian War of Independence,Riobamba first declared independence on November 11, 1820, but was soon retaken by Crown forces. In 1822 the city became part ofGran Colombia,which gained independence from Spain that year. In 1830 the Republic of Ecuador established its own independence as a nation.
The Monumental Raúl Dávalos, a 13,000-person capacity bullring, opened here in 1952. In 2011 the nation voted by referendum to prohibit matadors killing the bulls in suchcorridas,a policy also followed by Portugal. This has resulted in a dramatic decline in related tourism, with a substantial loss in revenues, especially in Quito.[4]
On 20 November 2002, seven people were killed and hundreds wounded from a series of explosions at the munitions depot at the Galapagos Brigade arsenal in Riobamba. Such was the force of the explosion that many residents said they first thought there had been an earthquake or volcanic eruption. Windows were blown out more than 1.5 kilometres from the arsenal, and many of the injured suffered lacerations from flying shards of glass.[5]
According to ColonelArturo Cadena,a military spokesman inQuito,the initial explosion occurred during maintenance work inside the dump. In April 2003, the army published its final investigatory report of the explosion. It concluded that theSanta Barbara munitions factorywas directly responsible for the explosion, which the army classified as an accident.[citation needed]
Riobamba is located in the center of the country in the sierra region, in close proximity to theChimborazo volcano.Like many cities in Ecuador, Riobamba has a near constant temperature year-round, with a wet and dry season. Its altitude (2754 m) and closeness to Chimborazo give the city a cool climate year-round, with temperatures averaging between 23 °C and 14 °C.
The economy of the city is based on the agricultural production of the surrounding local populations. Riobamba is also an important trade center of cattle-ranching. The city has an open-air market where indigenous artisans display and sell their wares. They make products such as handwoven textiles, handicrafts, leather goods, beer, and dairy products.
Universities include Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Escuela Superior Politecnica de Chimborazo which is the best in the city, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and Instituto Tecnologico superior Isabel de Godin.
Riobamba is a mid-level city in Ecuador, and the tenth largest in terms of population. It is the urban center of the Riobamba canton. Its historic center that has a number of well-preserved churches.
The main celebration in Riobamba is Fiesta del Niño Rey de Reyes, which starts in December and ends on January 6, Epiphany. Another celebration is Riobamba's Independence Day on 21 April.[8]
This museum has a gem-encrusted goldmonstrance.The art included in this religious collection is from the 18th century.[9]
Museum Córdoba Román
The Cordoba Roman family established a private collection consisting of ancient art, archaeological pieces, documents, and other possessions. They donated it to Riobamba municipality as the basis of a city museum.
Armas
It exhibits a wide selection of arms and uniforms. It also has religious materials from various epochs of Ecuador's history. It is located on Ave. Héroes de Tapi.
Casa de Bolívar
Antropológico del Banco Central
Museum y Centro Cultural Riobamba del Banco Central
Museum "Paquita Jaramillo"
Museum "Cultural Fernando Daquilema"
Museum Didáctico de Ciencias Naturales, at Pedro Vicente Maldonado high school
A scenic train ride (Nariz Del Diablo) leaves Riobamba three times a week, passing the Devil's Nose andAlausíround trip, with zig-zags. Before 2009 passengers were permitted to sit on the roof, but this practice has been prohibited for safety reasons.[11]
^Leon, P., 1998,The Discovery and Conquest of Peru, Chronicles of the New World Encounter,edited and translated by Cook and Cook, Durham: Duke University Press,ISBN9780822321460
Ecuador
Chimborazo
Cathedral
Iglesia de la Concepción
Loma de Quito's Church
The Chimborazo volcano
Neptuno
Los Altares
Maldonado's Park
Luis Costalesmonument
