Nice place!

I lived in Cuenca, Ecuador for just under 2 years, it was the most amazing experience. The city is absolutly amazing, with both old and new parts creating a wonderful diversity of cutlure and growth. The people are great, completely excepting and caring. I feel like I could go back now after 7 years of not living there and still feel like its home. I would recommend everyone visit Cuenca at least once in their lifetime!!!

If you're interested in seeing good examples of colonial architecture, Cuenca is probably your best bet in Ecuador. There are some really beautiful churches, parks, and civic buildings. And Cuenca is far less touristy than Quito - I walked around the city for a full day and only noticed a handful of non-Ecuadorians. But looking at buildings can't hold my attention for very long, and after a day in Cuenca I found myself wanting to head back out to the countryside. If it's a choice between seeing wildlife or artchitecture, I'll choose wildlife every time, and Ecuador is so full of great places to see animals that I didn't want to waste a lot of time in Cuenca.

The architecture, especially the churches, is quite lovely, and yes, it is a rather European style. Located near the city of Cuenca is Ingapirca, the ruins an Inca site, including a temple to the sun. Ingapirca is a really cool place- you can climb up and walk around in the actual temple.

Its funny that someone can compare Cuenca, Ecuador with Europe... If what you like about europe is the unemployment, poverty and mountains hop right in!!

Very pretty and lots to do and see. It's amazing how you can be in South America and feel as if you're in Europe in a place like this because of the architecture. Beautiful, but as is often the case increasingly poluted.