Riobamba - City of Ecuador

Riobamba is the capital of the Chimborazo Province in central Ecuador, which is located at the Chambo River Valley of the Andes. It is 200 km south of Ecuador's capital Quito and located at 9,000 feet on the Avenue of the Volcanoes.

The region surrounding Riobamba was a Puruhá Indian territory before it was conquered by the Incas during the late 15th century. In 1534, the city was founded in the San Miguel plains, becoming the first city in modern-day Ecuador to be established. In 1563 the city became part of the Spanish Empire's newly-formed Royal Audience of Quito. The city was completely destroyed by earthquake in 1797, but rebuilt a few years later 14 km away from its original location . The city still retains much architecture from the Spanish period.

In the Ecuadorian War of Independence Riobamba first declared independence on November 11, 1820 but was soon retaken. The city finally became part of an independent Gran Colombia in 1822, and then a separate Republic of Ecuador in 1830.

Riobamba is located in the center of the country in the sierra region, within 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 and closeness to Chimborazo give the city a cool climate year-round, with temperatures averaging between 23°C and 14°C.

Universities include Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Escuela Superior Politecnica de Chimborazo, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and Instituto Tecnologico superior Isabel de godin.

Churches in Riobamba include Catedral, Basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Concepción, La Merced, San Antonio, San Alfonso, Casa Madre, and Capilla del Colegio San Felipe Neri.