El Quinche jij, Religious parish in Pichincha Province, Ecuador
El Quinche is a pilgrimage site in the Andes located about 22 kilometers from Quito at an elevation exceeding 2,600 meters. Mountains and agricultural fields surround the settlement, with a church forming the focal point of the community.
The settlement began as an indigenous shrine and became an Inca settlement in the 15th century. Spanish colonizers built a church in the 1530s that shaped the religious character of the place.
The shrine draws pilgrims from across the region who gather for the annual November celebration honoring the Virgin. Religious devotion remains central to how locals experience and use this place.
Regular bus services connect El Quinche to Quito throughout the day, making visits accessible for travelers. The high elevation requires visitors to prepare for the altitude and allow time for adjustment.
Archaeological excavations have uncovered Inca pottery and military structures showing the site's role in controlling the region. These discoveries reveal the strategic importance this highland location held for the Inca Empire.
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