- For other articles on subjects named Cuenca, see Cuenca.
Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador, capital of the Azuay province. It is located in the Sierra, the highlands of Ecuador at 2800m above sea level. Its full name is Santa Ana de los Cuatro Ríos de Cuenca.
Its foundation is dated in 1557 by the Spanish historian Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, and its independence has been declared in 1820. However, the history of the site remounts further to the native Cañari village of Guapondeleg ("land as big as heaven", 500AD), later conquered by the Inca and called Tomebamba.
It has recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 Panoramic View of Cuenca, seen from the village of Turi External link
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