Pillaro
Encyclopedia
Píllaro is a city in Ecuador
, located in the province of Tungurahua
. It is the capital of the Píllaro Canton
and stands about 19 km northeast of Ambato, the provincial capital .
The city is located on a high Andean
plain, at an altitude of 2,800 metres above sea level and has an average temperature of around 13 degrees Celsius. It is an agricultural centre, producing primarily cereals, potatoes, and fruit (mainly apples). It is also known as a centre for wood-carving.
, the famous Incan military commander, was born in Huaynacuri de Píllaro, around 1482. Son of Huayna Cápac and Nary Ati. Down the maternal line his grandparents were Pillahuaso Ati, Cacique de Píllaro and the Queen Choasanguil. His name means "face of stone". El Congreso Nacional (the National Congress) in 1985, decided that the 1st of December be remembered as a conmemoration of the country's indigenous
hero and a defender of the Kingdom of Quito against the Spanish conquistadors.
Píllaro was founded in 1570 by Antonio Clavijo. Píllaro became a separate canton in 1851. The town was heavily damaged in the 1949 earthquake
that similarly devastated the nearby towns of Ambato and Pelileo
.
. This is the site of the legend of the Llangantes
. The legends goes that Rumiñahui
, on his way to Cajamarca
to pay off the Spanish conquistadors, hid Incan gold in the park. The gold was supposed to go to Francisco Pizarro
to pay the ransom for the kidnapped Incan king, Atahualpa
. Rumiñahui
, on learning that his king had been killed, sidetracked to the deserted paramo
of the Llanganates and buried the gold
. Many in Pillaro encourage the story, insisting that the town is full of secrets and legends.
Pillaro is divided into 7 districts:
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, located in the province of Tungurahua
Tungurahua Province
Tungurahua is one of the twenty-four provinces of Ecuador. Its capital is Ambato. The province takes its name from the Tungurahua volcano, which is located within the boundaries of the provinces.-Population:...
. It is the capital of the Píllaro Canton
Píllaro Canton
Píllaro Canton is a canton of Ecuador, located in the Tungurahua Province. Its capital is the town of Píllaro. Its population at the 2001 census was 34,925....
and stands about 19 km northeast of Ambato, the provincial capital .
The city is located on a high Andean
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
plain, at an altitude of 2,800 metres above sea level and has an average temperature of around 13 degrees Celsius. It is an agricultural centre, producing primarily cereals, potatoes, and fruit (mainly apples). It is also known as a centre for wood-carving.
History
RumiñahuiRumiñahui (Inca warrior)
Rumiñahui, Ruminavi, Rumiñagui, or alternatively Rumiaoui, born late 15th century, died June 25, 1535, was an Inca warrior who, after the death of Emperor Atahualpa, led the resistance against the Spanish in the northern part of the Inca Empire in 1533.Born in Pillaro in the modern province of...
, the famous Incan military commander, was born in Huaynacuri de Píllaro, around 1482. Son of Huayna Cápac and Nary Ati. Down the maternal line his grandparents were Pillahuaso Ati, Cacique de Píllaro and the Queen Choasanguil. His name means "face of stone". El Congreso Nacional (the National Congress) in 1985, decided that the 1st of December be remembered as a conmemoration of the country's indigenous
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
hero and a defender of the Kingdom of Quito against the Spanish conquistadors.
Píllaro was founded in 1570 by Antonio Clavijo. Píllaro became a separate canton in 1851. The town was heavily damaged in the 1949 earthquake
1949 Ambato earthquake
The 1949 Ambato earthquake was the largest earthquake in the Western Hemisphere in more than five years. On August 5, 1949, it struck Ecuador's Tungurahua Province southeast of its capital, Ambato, and killed 5,050 people. Measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, it originated from a hypocenter ...
that similarly devastated the nearby towns of Ambato and Pelileo
Pelileo
Pelileo is a city located at the center of the Andean region of Ecuador called La Sierra...
.
Geography
Pillaro is considered a gateway to the Llanganates National ParkLlanganates National Park
Llanganates National Park is a protected area in Ecuador situated in the Cotopaxi Province, Napo Province, Pastaza Province and Tungurahua Province. The name, "llanganates" supposedly comes from "beautiful mountain" in Quechua. Located within the park is the similarly named Cerro Hermoso which...
. This is the site of the legend of the Llangantes
Llanganates National Park
Llanganates National Park is a protected area in Ecuador situated in the Cotopaxi Province, Napo Province, Pastaza Province and Tungurahua Province. The name, "llanganates" supposedly comes from "beautiful mountain" in Quechua. Located within the park is the similarly named Cerro Hermoso which...
. The legends goes that Rumiñahui
Rumiñahui
Rumiñahui may refer to:*Rumiñahui *Rumiñahui *Rumiñahui...
, on his way to Cajamarca
Cajamarca
Cajamarca may refer to:Colombia*Cajamarca, Tolima a town and municipality in Tolima DepartmentPeru* Cajamarca, city in Peru.* Cajamarca District, district in the Cajamarca province.* Cajamarca Province, province in the Cajamarca region....
to pay off the Spanish conquistadors, hid Incan gold in the park. The gold was supposed to go to Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro
Francisco Pizarro González, Marquess was a Spanish conquistador, conqueror of the Incan Empire, and founder of Lima, the modern-day capital of the Republic of Peru.-Early life:...
to pay the ransom for the kidnapped Incan king, Atahualpa
Atahualpa
Atahualpa, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa, or Atawallpa , was the last Sapa Inca or sovereign emperor of the Tahuantinsuyu, or the Inca Empire, prior to the Spanish conquest of Peru...
. Rumiñahui
Rumiñahui
Rumiñahui may refer to:*Rumiñahui *Rumiñahui *Rumiñahui...
, on learning that his king had been killed, sidetracked to the deserted paramo
Páramo
The term páramo can refer to a variety of ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline”. A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement - specifically located in “the northern Andes...
of the Llanganates and buried the gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. Many in Pillaro encourage the story, insisting that the town is full of secrets and legends.
Pillaro is divided into 7 districts:
- Baquerizo Moreno
- Emilio María Terán (Rumipamba)
- Marcos Espinel (Chacata)
- Presidente Urbina (Chagrapamba)
- San Andrés
- San José de Poaló
- San Miguelito.