Top Things to do in Cuenca
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The 10 Best Specialty Museums in Cuenca, Azuay Province
Writers and poets have long flourished in arts-oriented Cuenca, the country's third-largest city and the capital of the Azuay province. Cafes and galleries are tucked among the narrow cobblestone streets. The main plaza hosts both the old cathedral, started in 1557, the year the city was founded, and the blue-domed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, dating to 1885. Locally made Panama hats get top billing at the markets, with centrally located Casa de la Mujer a shopping standout.
Restaurants in Cuenca
1. Cava San Miguel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
2. Museo Catedral Vieja
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 437 reviews
Situated on top of some ancient Inca ruins, this cathedral was built in 1557 when modern Cuenca was founded.
Reviewed By 503nath_liap - Belo Horizonte, Brazil
There you can see beautiful pieces of art and learn about Cuenca's history and the history about catholic religion coming to South America. I recommend to listen the recording about the place.
3. Homero Ortega
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 363 reviews
Reviewed By Dorito50 - Washington DC, United States
The free guided tour (in English or Spanish) of how the misnamed Panama hat of Ecuador is made is fascinating. Also welcome is the freedom to wonder among the workers to see what they do up close, ask questions and take photos. The tour ends, of course, in the company store, including the room where the finest and most expensive hats are on display. Hats at all price levels are available and, even if you don't buy, you can try them on for fun. If you happen to arrive at a time when no guided tour is available, there is good bilingual signage to self-tour. Panama hats are one of Ecuador's signature crafts. Homero Ortega offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about them and maybe take one home..
4. Museo de las Culturas Aborigenes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 242 reviews
5000 Beautiful archaeologic pieces displayed in 15 rooms.
Reviewed By deborahsF6391YI
Terrific little museum with a wide range of artifacts from indigenous cultures around Ecuador. Offerings include: ornamental and utilitarian ceramics, musical instruments, weapons and tools, jewelry and ornaments, textiles, and more. There is also a nice gift shop with a wide selection of indigenous crafts at the exit/entry.
5. El Museo de Las Conceptas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By miguelpY494YA - Boston, United States
Also a must visit in Cuenca. This 400 plus years old building its very well preserved and you can imagine how the nuns had to be living there.
6. Pumapungo Museo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 504 reviews
Reviewed By neuersarah8
The display was really lovely and I had the feeling that one day wouldn't be enough to see everything you wanted to see! It was divided in sections and had a special exhibition on Indian culture, but that didn't interfere with the usual show of Ecuadorian history. All in all it was very well made and the paths easy to follow. The outdoor area is also great for relaxing and enjoying the view on Cuenca. Definitely recommend to visit!
7. Museo Remigio Crespo Toral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By Simcock - Richmond-upon-Thames, United Kingdom
I've borrowed the slogan from the London Victoria and Albert Museum, but it applies equally here. The café looks over the Rio Tomebamba in the garden of this old town house; the food and drink is excellent and the staff pleasant and helpful. The museum gives a fascinating glimpse of the life of an uper middle-class household in teh first half of the 20th century - a really good insight into the posh life of Cuenca at that period.
8. Museo del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 143 reviews
The museum was born from the desire of the Paredes-Roldan family to pay homage to all the skilled hands of artisans who have inherited the mastery of the toquilla straw hat fabric, have dedicated and dedicated their lives to this beautiful tradition since earlier times to the colony. The hat museum is one of the most popular places for national and international tourists. It is a company with more than 60 years of history in the city of Cuenca. For this reason they dedicated a special space in the building in which the family is located for more than 100 years where the museum, factory, shop and cafeteria is located. In addition you can acquire this beautiful and genuine hat whose fabric was declared by UNESCO in 2012 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and that faithful to its origin and laborious work must be known as Ecuadorian hat or Ecuadorian hat and not panama hat.
Reviewed By howiewu - Washington DC, United States
By now you know that Panama Hats are made in Ecuador that's why you want to visit this museum. There are two of them in Cuenca: this one and the one by Homero Ortega near the bus terminal. I was told that the Homero Ortega one was better. We ended up visiting both. In my opinion this one is better for several reasons: first, it is in town, by the river, it's quite easy to get to. Second, it has a demonstration of hat press by museum staff, I think that is quite interesting. Third, what a view! The top level of the museum has an open roof, as it is by the river, the view of the river, the other side (south) of Cuenca and the distant Andean mountains is worth a trip itself. They also have a nice selection of Panama Hats in exhibit and for sale. This is not to say Homero Ortega is not good, that is a nice museum too, but if I stayed in town and had to visit just one Panama Hat museum, this one would be the one that I would visit.
9. Museo de Esqueletologia
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 33 reviews
