Ibarra, Ecuador

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San Miguel de Ibarra
Flag of Ibarra
Official seal of Ibarra
Nickname(s): La Ciudad Blanca (The White City)
Ibarra is located in Ecuador
Coordinates: 0°21′45.64″N 78°07′50.40″W﻿ / ﻿0.3626778°N 78.1306667°W﻿ / 0.3626778; -78.1306667Coordinates: 0°21′45.64″N 78°07′50.40″W﻿ / ﻿0.3626778°N 78.1306667°W﻿ / 0.3626778; -78.1306667
Country Ecuador
Province Imbabura
Canton Ibarra Canton
Founded 28 September 1606
Re-founded 28 April 1872
Founded by Cristóbal de Troya y Pinque
Named for Don Miguel de Ibarra
 • Alcalde Alvaro Castillo
AreaArea of the urban parishes
 • City 242.02 km2 (93.44 sq mi)
Elevation 2,225 m (7,300 ft)
Population (2010 census)
 • City 139,721
 • Density 580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
 • Metro 181,175
Time zone ECT (UTC-5)
Postal code EC100150
Area code(s) (+593) 6
Website www.ibarra.gob.ec (Spanish)

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 70 kilometres (43 mi) northeast of Ecuador's capital Quito.


Ibarra was founded in 1606 by the Spanish. Many 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 2 km from the city.

Helados de paila (handmade ice cream or sorbet and still sold in the markets today) was first made in Ibarra during Incan times (but not by Incas; by the native indigenous), using snow or 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 in 1606, was by mandate of the Royal Audience of Quito and re-founded after a devastating earthquake on 16 August 1868 forced the city to be re-founded in 1872. Based on its newest date of foundation, Ibarra is the youngest city in Ecuador.[citation needed]

Ibarra today[edit]

Today, Ibarra is a market town popular with tourists. It has mild weather, colonial white-washed houses (giving it the nickname The White City), and cobbled streets.[1] The Santo 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, which is held on the last weekend of September. Also, two colorful parades known as El Pregón and Virgen del Carmen are held on 16 July every year.

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

Sister Cities:


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