Benalcazar Statue

Discover cities like never before.

Enjoy over self-guided city exploration with our app ‘Explory’. Learn all about the history and discover hidden more than 500.000 hidden gems, that only locals know about. Build custom tours, find nearby places, and start exploring instantly.

Beneath the gaze of Sebastián de Benalcazar’s statue, a story unfolds. The Benalcazar Statue dominates the plaza, a bronze figure astride a horse. This isn’t just any statue. It’s a window into the turbulent times of conquest and the founding of Quito. Sebastián de Benalcazar, born Sebastián Moyano y Cabrera around 1490, wasn’t just a conquistador. He was a city builder. In 1534, he claimed Quito for Spain, defeating Inca general Rumiñahui. Benalcazar, along with Diego de Almagro and Baltasar Maldonado, established the city we know today, naming it “San Francisco de Quito” to honor Francisco Pizarro. The Benalcazar Statue commemorates this pivotal moment. Benalcazar’s ambition didn’t stop at Quito. He pushed north into present-day Colombia, founding Cali, Pasto, and Popayán. His drive for power led to land disputes and even the execution of a rival governor, Jorge Robledo. Convicted in absentia and sentenced to death, Benalcazar died of natural causes in Cartagena in 1551 before his sentence could be carried out. The Benalcazar Statue stands as a reminder of a complex historical figure, a man who shaped the destiny of this region.

Learning about Benalcazar Statue in Quito is only the beginning of your adventure. Explory helps you go further with a powerful digital guide that transforms every walk into an experience. Using our intuitive city guide, you can easily connect stories with locations, creating your own city tour while enjoying Quito at your own rhythm. Explory’s goal is to make your trip unforgettable. Our guide combines storytelling with orientation, giving you the chance to uncover the rich layers of Quito. Thanks to the integrated audio guide, you can listen to fascinating narratives while exploring the streets. Beyond the well-known attractions, Explory highlights hidden gems and secret corners that make the city truly unique. With the city guide, you’ll gain insights and flexibility. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular traveler, the app offers exploration on your terms. Each curated city tour blends local culture, history, and atmosphere into one seamless experience. The emphasis on exploration ensures you won’t just see Quito, but actually connect with it. And because our content reveals hidden gems, you’ll always discover something new. Expand your journey by downloading the Explory App. Explore over 300 cities and more than 500,000 POIs and stories, all accessible from your phone. Whether you need a trusted guide, a flexible audio guide, or a structured city tour, Explory offers everything in one place. Start your adventure today and explore Quito like never before with Explory.

More Places in Quito

Yeusefiya Cemetery

Were these once vibrant lives, now commemorated beneath our feet? We stand before the Yeusefiya Cemetery, a place where history

Explore

耿辛庄桥

Across the Jiuduhe River stands the majestic Luoshen Bridge. Its elegant arches whisper tales of emperors and dynasties. Luoshen Bridge

Explore

Zion Baptist Church

Founded in 1882 Zion Baptist Church stands proudly in Philadelphia. It’s a testament to faith resilience and community. This wasn’t

Explore

Boat house

The clean lines and simple elegance of the Bauhaus movement are all around us here in Tel Aviv. And yet,

Explore