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Loja City Gates (Puerta de la Ciudad)
Loja and surrounding
Architecture,  Castles, Fortresses, Towers,  Unusual places
Architecture, 
Castles, Fortresses, Towers, 
Unusual places
...

In the city of Loja, there is an interesting attraction, relatively young but nonetheless lovely. It is the Loja City Gates (Puerta de la Ciudad), built in 1998.

As historians note, the architectural appearance of Puerta de la Ciudad mirrors the layout of the coat of arms designated by King Philip II of Spain in 1571. The coat of arms symbolized a fortress city that the military expeditions conquering the Amazon River used as their starting point.

The ancient motto of Loja inscribed on the gates is proof of this historical fact: «FIDELIS LOXA LIBERIS» means «Loja Free and Faithful».

The stunning gates reminding a piece of an ancient castle are a favorite meeting spot for both locals and tourists. Most of the tours start here. It is the proper place to learn about the cultural peculiarities of the centuries-old settlement.

Interestingly, the city gates, named in Spanish «Puerta de la Ciudad», aren’t just a beautifully decorated entrance to the old center of Loja. It is an entire cultural complex. It includes the Bolivar Bridge over the Malacatos River, a castle with its inner halls, and a famous monument to Don Quixote and his squire Sancho.

Inside the castle, which is the main part of the City Gates, there are several points of interest connected with the culture of the region. Firstly, it is the archaeological museum, where you can see diverse everyday objects and arms of the pre-Colombian epoch, as well as ritual artifacts of the Incas. Secondly, there are several galleries where local and foreign artists exhibit their works. The exhibitions are temporary, so every time you get to see something new. Sometimes, concerts are arranged here, as well as creative evenings, lectures, and themed workshops.

Besides, the most popular souvenir shops with fine masterworks are located precisely in the Loja City Gates area. As locals say, these aren’t ordinary shops but authentic museums where you can buy an exhibit.

But of course, there can’t be a cultural center without a pleasant café. Here, in a small coffee space, you can taste national drinks and meals, with the recipes being followed since the 15th century.

Address: Puerta de la Ciudad

Published by

Diane Mikheeva

All content and media files are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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