Riobamba (, full name San Pedro de Riobamba;
Quechua
Quechua may refer to:
*Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru
*Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language
**So ...
: ''Rispampa'') is the capital of
Chimborazo Province
Chimborazo () is a province in the central Ecuadorian Andes. It is a home to a section of Sangay National Park. The capital is Riobamba. The province contains Chimborazo (6,267 m), Ecuador's highest mountain.
Cantons
The province is divided ...
in central
Ecuador
Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ' ...
, and is located in the
Chambo River Valley of the
Andes
The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...
. It is south of Ecuador's capital
Quito and located at an elevation of 2,754 m.
The city is an important regional transport center and a stop on the
Pan-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway (french: (Auto)route panaméricaine/transaméricaine; pt, Rodovia/Auto-estrada Pan-americana; es, Autopista/Carretera/Ruta Panamericana) is a network of roads stretching across the Americas and measuring about in to ...
, which runs through Ecuador. Riobamba is one of the largest cities in the central portion of Ecuador's Sierra region.
Name
Riobamba takes its name from a combination of ''rio'', the Spanish word for "river", and ''rispampa'', the
Quechua
Quechua may refer to:
*Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru
*Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language
**So ...
word for "plain."
History
The region surrounding Riobamba was inhabited by the
Puruhá nation before the advance of the
Inca Empire
The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, ( Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The adm ...
during the late 15th century. The Puruha fiercely resisted the Inca efforts to conquer the north of today's Ecuador. The Inca
Huayna Capac
Huayna Capac (with many alternative transliterations; 1464/1468–1524) was the third Sapan Inka of the Inca Empire, born in Tumipampa sixth of the Hanan dynasty, and eleventh of the Inca civilization. Subjects commonly approached Sapa Inkas add ...
had 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 the
Kingdom of Quito in the northern Andes. The 18th-century Jesuit historian
Juan de Velasco
Juan de Velasco y Pérez Petroche (1727–1792) was an 18th-century Jesuit priest, historian, and professor of philosophy and theology from the Royal Audience of Quito. He was born in Riobamba to Juan de Velasco y López de Moncayo and to Ma ...
described 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 was
Atahualpa, 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 by
Diego de Almagro
Diego de Almagro (; – July 8, 1538), also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo, was a Spanish conquistador known for his exploits in western South America. He participated with Francisco Pizarro in the Spanish conquest of Peru. While subd ...
. It is considered the first city to be established in what is modern-day Ecuador.
[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, ] In 1563, the city became part of the
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...
's newly formed
Royal Audience of Quito
The of Quito (sometimes referred to as or ) was an administrative unit in the Spanish Empire which had political, military, and religious jurisdiction over territories that today include Ecuador, parts of northern Peru, parts of southern Colo ...
.
Although the city was completely destroyed by an
earthquake in 1797, it was rebuilt a few years later from its original location. The second site was near a village named
Cajabamba on the plains of San Antonio de Aguíscate. The city still retains much architecture from the Spanish colonial period.
In the
Ecuadorian War of Independence
The Ecuadorian War of Independence was fought from 1820 to 1822 between several South American armies and Spain over control of the lands of the Royal Audience of Quito, a Spanish colonial administrative jurisdiction from which would eventuall ...
, Riobamba first declared independence on November 11, 1820, but was soon retaken by Crown forces. In 1822 the city became part of
Gran Colombia
Gran Colombia (, "Great Colombia"), or Greater Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia (Spanish language, Spanish: ''República de Colombia''), was a state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central Ameri ...
, which gained independence from Spain that year. In 1830 the Republic of Ecuador established its own independence as a nation.
20th century to present
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 such ''
corridas'', 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.
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.
According to Colonel
Arturo Cadena, a military spokesman in
Quito, 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 the
Santa Barbara munitions factory was directly responsible for the explosion, which the army classified as an accident.
Geography
Riobamba is located in the center of the country in the sierra region, in close proximity to the
Chimborazo 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.
Economy
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 as textiles, handicrafts, leather goods, beer, and dairy products.
Education
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.
Cityscape
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.
Festivals
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.
Museums
* Arte Religioso de la Concepción
This museum has a gem-encrusted gold
monstrance. The art included in this religious collection is from the 18th century.
* 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
Sports
Riobamba is the home city of one top-level football club,
Centro Deportivo Olmedo
Club Centro Deportivo Olmedo is an Ecuadorian professional football club based in Riobamba, Ecuador. They play in the Serie B.
The club won their only national championship in 2000. Their achievement made them the first club outside Quito an ...
.
Cockfights are usually seen during Riobamba's festivities and on weekends at the Gallera San Francisco.
Riobamba is the trekking and mountain climbing capital of Ecuador. It is the base city for climbs of
Carihuairazo
Mount Carihuairazo (also ''Carihuayrazo'') is an eroded stratovolcano neighboured by Ecuador, Ecuador's highest mountain Chimborazo (volcano), Chimborazo.
Geography
Location
Carihuairazo is located in the Cordillera Occidental, Ecuador, Cordille ...
,
Chimborazo
Chimborazo () is a currently inactive stratovolcano in the Cordillera Occidental range of the Andes. Its last known eruption is believed to have occurred around 550 A.D.
Chimborazo's summit is the farthest point on the Earth's surface from t ...
,
Sangay
Sangay (also known as Macas, Sanagay, or Sangai) is an active stratovolcano in central Ecuador. It exhibits mostly strombolian activity. Geologically, Sangay marks the southern boundary of the Northern Volcanic Zone, and its position straddlin ...
,
El Altar
El Altar or Capac Urcu (possibly from Kichwa ''kapak'' principal, great, important / magnificence, ''urku'' mountain) is an extinct volcano on the western side of Sangay National Park in Ecuador, south of Quito, with a highest point of . Spaniards ...
, and the
Lost Pyramid of Puñay. Mountain biking is another common sport.
A traditional ball game in Riobamba is the ''mamona'', which is played with a leather ball. Local men and youths usually play it in the afternoons at the Plaza Roja.
CENAEST has temperate swimming pools and a spa that attract many tourists.
Sightseeing
A scenic train ride (''Nariz Del Diablo'') leaves Riobamba three times a week, passing the Devil's Nose and
Alausí round trip, with zig-zags. Before 2009 passengers were permitted to sit on the roof, but this practice has been prohibited for safety reasons.
Notable natives and residents
*
Pedro Vicente Maldonado
Pedro Vicente Maldonado y Flores (November 24, 1704 in Riobamba, Royal Audience of Quito (today's Ecuador) – November 7, 1748 in London, England) was an Ecuadorian scientist who collaborated with the members of the French Geodesic Mission. As we ...
(1704–1748) – scientist, astronomer, mathematician, topographer, geographer
*
Magdalena Dávalos y Maldonado (1725–1806) – scholar and literary figure, painter, musician
*
Juan de Velasco
Juan de Velasco y Pérez Petroche (1727–1792) was an 18th-century Jesuit priest, historian, and professor of philosophy and theology from the Royal Audience of Quito. He was born in Riobamba to Juan de Velasco y López de Moncayo and to Ma ...
(1727–1792) – Jesuit priest, historian, professor, poet, writer
*
Luz Elisa Borja Martínez (1903–1927) – poet, pianist, painter, and sculptor
*
Luis A Costales (1926–2006) – poet, philosopher, speaker, historian, and politician
*
María Murgueytio (1927–2016) – first woman in Ecuador to hold a mayoral office
*
Pacifico Chiriboga (1810–1886) – early Ecuadorean politician
*
Bolívar Echeverría (1941–2010) – philosopher, economist, cultural critic
*
Euler Granda (1935–2018) – poet, writer, psychiatrist
*
Oswaldo Moncayo
Oswaldo Moncayo (September 10, 1923 – April 4, 1984) was an Ecuadorian painter.
Moncayo (O. Moncayo) was born in Riobamba, Ecuador. As a child he moved to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, where he learned the art of oil painting. He started to p ...
(1923–1984) – painter
*
Oswaldo Muñoz Mariño (1923–2016) – architect, painter
Gallery
File:Catedral Riobamba.jpg, Cathedral
File:Iglesia de la Concepción Riobamba.jpg, Iglesia de la Concepción
File:Loma de Quito.jpg, Loma de Quito's Church
File:EL CHIMBORAZO.jpg, The Chimborazo volcano
File:Neptuno riobamba.JPG, Neptuno
File:LOS ALTARES.JPG, Los Altares
File:Ecuador Riobamba ParqueMaldonada.JPG, Maldonado's Park
File:Monumento Luis Alberto Costales.jpg, Luis Costales monument
File:Riobamba.png, “ Riobamba, la bella, grande y noble, ha sido y es gloria y fortuna, para quienes nacieron en ella. “ - Luis A Costales
References
External links
Official website of the municipality Gadm Riobamba (In Spanish)Riobamba area map Riobamba City Guide
{{Authority control
Populated places in Chimborazo Province
Provincial capitals in Ecuador
Populated places established in 1534
1534 establishments in the Spanish Empire
Riobamba Canton