Ibarra, Ecuador

Infobox Settlement
name = Ibarra
official_name = San Miguel de Ibarra
other_name =
native_name =
nickname = La Cuidad Blanca ("The White City")
settlement_type = City
total_type =
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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Aerial view of Ibarra


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map_caption = Location in Ecuador


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Ecuador
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Imbabura
subdivision_type2 = Canton
subdivision_name2 = Ibarra
seat_type =
seat =
parts_type = Parishes
parts_style = coll
parts = Urban Parishes
p1 = Alpachaca
p2 = Caranqui
p3 = La Dolorosa del Priorato
p4 = El Sagrario
p5 = San Francisco
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Pablo Jurado
leader_title1 =
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established_title = Founded
established_date = September 28, 1606
established_title2 = Re-founded
established_date2 = April 28, 1872
founder = Cristóbal de Troya y Pinque
named_for = Don Miguel de Ibarra
area_magnitude =
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area_footnotes = Area of the urban parishes
area_total_km2 = 41.68
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elevation_m = 2225
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population_as_of = 2001
population_footnotes =
population_note = Population of the urban parishes
population_total = 116523
population_density_km2 = auto
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = ECT
utc_offset = -5
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latd=0 |latm=21 |lats=45.64 |latNS=N
longd=78 |longm=07 |longs=50.40 |longEW=W
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website = http://www.municipiodeibarra.org/
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Ibarra (full name San Miguel de Ibarra) is a city in northern Ecuador and the capital of the Imbabura Province. It lies at the foot of the Imbabura Volcano and on the left bank of the Tahuando river. It is about 45 miles northeast of Ecuador's capital Quito.

History

Ibarra was founded in the greats 1606 by the Spanish. Many beautiful churches and public buildings were built, but an earthquake in 1868 destroyed many of them. The Inca ruler Atahualpa was born in the Inca settlement of Caranquí about 2km from here.

Helados de paila (handmade ice-cream / sorbet) was first made in Ibarra during Incan times, (but not by Incan, by the native indigenous), using snow / ice from the nearby Imbabura Volcano ("which is no longer snow bound"). Using a large bronze pan surrounded by ice shavings, the juices of various fruits are stirred into the pan to freeze.

The city was founded twice. The first time, in 1606, was by mandate of the Royal Audience of Quito. A devastating earthquake on August 16, 1868 forced the city to be re-founded in 1872. Based on it's newest date of foundation, Ibarra is the youngest city in Ecuador.

Modern Day Ibarra

Nowadays, Ibarra is a market town popular with tourists. It is blessed with fine weather, colonial white-washed houses (giving it the nickname The White City) and cobbled streets. The Santa Domingo church houses a museum holding paintings. The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ibarra.

Markets are on Saturdays, and the main festival is the Fiesta de los Lagos held on the last weekend of September. Also, two colourful parades known as "El Pregón" and "Virgen del Carmen" are held on July 16 every year.

Other town attractions are the many restaurants specialising in local cuisine, along with the clubs, discos and a well known paragliding club.

External links

* [http://www.municipiodeibarra.org/ Official Website] Information available in Spanish.
*en icon [http://www.ulivewhere.com/low/downloads/download-ibarra.html Audio interview with Ibarra resident about life in Ibarra]