Museo de la ciudad, Quito is a must visit site of Quito. From the collectibles here, you can have the idea of the development of Quito over the centuries.

Do you want to start your tour of Quito by visiting a place from where you can know about the history of the city? Then you should begin your journey with a visit to Museo de la ciudad, Quito. Museo de la ciudad, Quito can be easily regarded as the storehouse of the history of Quito.

The building of Museo de la ciudad, Quito dates back to the 16th century. Though the building is old, it is attractively restored now. From the year 1565 to 1973, it served as a hospital. At first, the name of the hospital was Hospital de la Misericordia y Caridad and later on the name changed to San Juan de Dios Hospital.

The moment you enter this historic building situated on the east of Plaza de Santo Domingo, you would understand why it is regarded as a spot worth visiting! All the rooms of this two storied building are full of exhibits providing a clear picture of Quito century by century. In each floor you would find models, interactive displays and memorabilia. Here you would find archaeological artifacts collected from the time before the advent of the Spaniards. These artifacts include figures, maps and utensils of that time. The other collectibles worth watching in the museum are the models of the horse-drawn carriages of the 17th century and various pots and pans made of ceramic. There are also various maps available in the museum depicting the political history of Quito. All the rooms slowly unfurl the history of Quito century by century.

Beside each article, a written explanation in Spanish is given. If you are unable to read Spanish then it is advisable that you go for a guided tour. These guided tours are available in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish by paying a few extra dollars.

Another part of the Museo de la ciudad, Quito is the leafy courtyard around which the building is built. This place offers you a quiet oasis in the midst of the busy city of Quito. If you are tired after a round of the museum, then take a break by sitting at the café in the courtyard. Sip at the coffee and watch the fantastic view of the southern Quito and Panecillo.