La Mitad del Mundo (the Middle of the World)

The Middle of the World is the perfect place for a walk, because it emphasizes the exact location of the Equator, from which the country of Ecuador takes its name. It is located in the parish of San Antonio de Pichincha, at the north of Quito’s city. The main attraction of the place is the monument to the middle of the world, that reminds the French-Spanish geodesic mission of the 18th century that located the site where the Equator passes; but the ethnographic museum of the Middle of the World is also there.

 

The attraction complements with a small city around the monument called “Middle of the World City” (Ciudad Mitad del Mundo), which is a replica of a Spanish colonial village. In addition to this is important to name some other monuments that are located at the Equator, as they are: Catequilla Hill, the solar watch “Quitsato” and the ancient pyramid of Calacalí. The obelisk of the Middle of the World, which is 30 meters high, was built between 1979 and 1982. It ends in a globe of 4.5 meters in diameter and 5 tons. Inside it there is a small museum. There are four pavilions at the “Middle of the World City”. Pavilion “Oswaldo Guayasamín” has an exhibition of works by the famous Ecuadorian painter.

                                               

Another of the pavilions is France, where the Geodesic Museum is located. At the sun’s pavilion there is some information exhibited about Guayaquil and Cuenca cities. The visitors can enjoy a total of 11 different attractions, some of these are: the Planetarium, a mockup of colonial Quito, the Insectarium (First Insect Museum of Ecuador) and the Craft Beer Museum. During weekends and holidays the visitors can enjoy festivals, dances and some others artistic expressions at the town square.