San Gabriel was also declared two years ago as a Magic Town of Ecuador. (I)
San Gabriel, CARCHI
This Thursday, November 11, San Gabriel, the second city in population in Carchi, celebrates 29 years of having been declared a National Heritage Site. A study by the Organization of American States (OAS) included San Gabriel among the cities that maintained buildings with traditional materials.
Héctor Landázuri, former municipal president of Montúfar, head of the city’s museum and connoisseur of heritage issues, recalls that they had to meet several parameters to access this distinction.
During the Landázuri administration, San Gabriel achieved this recognition that few cities have until now. The OAS investigation established that in this city there were assets built with reed, adobe and tile, among others.
The Montufarean capital was selected from among several Latin American cities, the chroniclers of this heritage city recall, who agree that the nomination made this town visible in the international concert.
The declaration made San Gabriel one of the beautiful cities in Latin America and the Caribbean, with other cities in Bolivia and Colombia also being recognized on that occasion.
Former Minister of Education Eduardo Peña Triviño, on November 11, 1992, was in charge of placing the signature in the decree that distinguished this jurisdiction with more than 37,000 inhabitants as a Heritage City of the Nation and a Living Monument of Latin America and the Caribbean for their models of constructions and human behavior.
The municipality has worked in the heritage area to keep the urban-architectural history of this city intact and alive, through projects that have been coordinated with the National Heritage Institute in favor of the preservation and regeneration of various buildings.
Among the assets that have been rehabilitated include the Municipal House, the Museum of Crafts and the Central Market. In addition, the set of private properties located on Ezequiel Landázuri and Olmedo streets and on Colón street.
A consultancy carried out five years ago established that there are 400 old houses with more than 100 years of life, the investigation led by the consultant Fabián Lara showed that several buildings present problems of humidity and deterioration.
The current administration is pushing conservation processes, the works of the streets attached to the central park and improvement with an injection of more than 1,100,000 dollars reflects the interest of Mayor Andrés Ponce in the heritage issue.
This regenerative initiative that preserves several aged architectural elements will provide a renewed image to the first ring of the city, a work that is about to be delivered, making this place the greatest attraction of San Gabriel, adds Ponce López.
Karina Guerra, from the Municipal Heritage Unit, explains that the homologation of signs and road nomenclature of the historic center is planned, through a design and creativity contest, which will change urban signage.
A program that has been going on for two weeks remembers this date with interesting activities related to performing arts, a contest for facades and balconies, photographic exhibitions, dance and children’s dancing.
Gastronomic fair, children’s narration of myths, stories and legends, bike ride through the El Salado lagoon, public speaking, band contest, graffiti and tribute to the artist Jairo Yépez, which take place in heritage spaces and settings.
Starting at 11:00 this Thursday, the installation of the solemn session was planned at the Casa de Hacienda Egas, in the community of Mata Redonda.
San Gabriel was also declared two years ago as a Magic Town of Ecuador. (I)
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