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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 i ...
in central Ecuador, and is located in the
Chambo River The Chambo River is a tributary of the Pastaza River in Ecuador. The Chambo rises on the Central Cordillera. The Chambo runs across the Province of Chimborazo, and eventually joins with the Patate River in the Province of Tungurahua, near Tung ...
Valley of the Andes. 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, 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 The Puruhá are an indigenous people of Ecuador. Their traditional area in the highlands of the Andes Mountains includes much of Chimborazo Province and parts of Bolívar Province. History In the early period they grew subsistence crops, raise ...
nation before the advance of the Inca Empire during the late 15th century. The Puruha fiercely resisted the Inca efforts to conquer the north of today's Ecuador. The Inca Huayna Capac 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 The Cara culture flourished in coastal Ecuador, in what is now Manabí Province, in the first millennium CE. History In the 10th century CE, they followed the Esmeraldas River up to the high Andean valley now developed as the city San Francisco de ...
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 Mar ...
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 Atahualpa (), also Atawallpa (Quechua), Atabalica, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa (c. 1502 – 26-29 July 1533) was the last Inca Emperor. After defeating his brother, Atahualpa became very briefly the last Sapa Inca (sovereign emperor) of the Inca Empi ...
, 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. 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'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 eventually ...
, 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: ''República de Colombia''), was a state that encompassed much of northern South America and part of southern Central America from 1819 to ...
, 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 Arturo is a Spanish and Italian variant of the name Arthur. People *Arturo Álvarez (footballer, born 1985), American-born Salvadoran footballer * Arturo Álvarez (footballer, born 1959), Mexican footballer * Arthuro Henrique Bernhardt (b. 1982), B ...
, 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 Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...
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 A monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory), is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, High Church Lutheran and Anglican churches for the display on an altar of some object of piety, such as the consecrated Eucharistic ...
. 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 and ...
.
Cockfights A cockfight is a blood sport, held in a ring called a cockpit. The history of raising fowl for fighting goes back 6,000 years. The first documented use of the ''word'' gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a " game", a sport, pastime or ...
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's highest mountain Chimborazo. Geography Location Carihuairazo is located in the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes of central Ecuador, south-southwe ...
,
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 the ...
, Sangay,
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 . Spaniar ...
, 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 Alausí is a town in the Chimborazo province of Ecuador. The town is particularly well-known across Ecuador for its railway heritage. It was named a '' Pueblo Mágico'' (magical town) by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) in 2019. His ...
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 ...
(1704–1748) – scientist, astronomer, mathematician, topographer, geographer *
Magdalena Dávalos y Maldonado Magdalena Dávalos y Maldonado (1725-1806) was an Ecuadorian scholar and literary figure. She was famous for her education, academic knowledge and literary talents in contemporary Ecuador, and was the only female member of the famous literary socie ...
(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 Mar ...
(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 Pacifico may refer to: People *Pacificus of Verona (776–844), 9th century archdeacon of Verona * Pacificus (Pacifico), 13th-century follower of St. Francis of Assisi * Pacificus of San Severino (1653–1721), 17th-century saint * Pacifico Licut ...
(1810–1886) – early Ecuadorean politician * Bolívar Echeverría (1941–2010) – philosopher, economist, cultural critic *
Euler Granda Euler Granda (June 7, 1935 – February 22, 2018) was an Ecuadorian poet, writer, and psychiatrist. Biography Granda was born in Riobamba, Ecuador, on June 7, 1935, to Aurora Espinoza and Ángel Polibio Granda. He was married to the poet Violeta ...
(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 ...
(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 Luis Alberto Costales Cazar (Riobamba, December 24, 1926 – Riobamba, February 1, 2006) was an Ecuadorian poet, philosopher, teacher, speaker, historian, farmer and politician. He was a poet and writer who also extensively studied the history of ...
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