History of Santa Ana

The construction of the city strictly complied with the right-angle city construction plan formulated by the then Spanish King Charles Cuenca in 1527. For 400 years, the construction of the city has followed the original construction plan. As the agricultural and administrative center of its surrounding region, the historic center is a melting pot of local residents and immigrants. Cuenca's architecture generally began in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the city became an export port for quinine, straw hats, and other products. Economic prosperity also promoted the modernization of urban architecture.

Selection criteria: In 1999, it was included in the "World Heritage List" according to the cultural heritage selection criteria C(II)(IV)(V)

Report on the evaluation of heritage: "World Heritage List" Report of the 23rd Session of the Heritage Committee"

World Heritage Committee's evaluation: Cuenca Historic Center, a town in a valley, surrounded by the Andes, is a typical inland colonial town. The aspiration to devote oneself to agriculture became a fusion point for natives and immigrants. It belongs to the first batch (19 items) of "Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" in the world. The list was solemnly announced and certificated by UNESCO in Paris on May 18, 2001. The Zapera people live in the Amazon rainforest region of Ecuador and Peru. Having lived in such an area for four centuries, there is no doubt that their knowledge of tropical rainforests is the most authoritative in the world. The Amazon basin area where the Zapera people live is famous for its species diversity on earth. The Zapera people express their close relationship with the rainforest through language, rituals, mythology, art and traditional medicine, which is of great global significance. Despite four turbulent and restless centuries, being subjected to colonial rule, forced invasion by Christianity, hard labor, disease and war, as well as the indiscriminate deforestation of forests by modern civilized people, the tenacious Zapera people have always remained strong. The fight to preserve ancestral traditions has not ceased. Before being occupied by Spanish colonists, the Zapera people still had 39 tribes. As cultural bearers, tribal members enable the cultural heritage of the Zapera people to be passed down from generation to generation. The unique culture of the Zapera people has faced great threats. It is estimated that the current population of Zapera is less than 300, of whom 200 live in Ecuador and 100 in Peru. What's even more frightening is that only 5 people can speak the unique language of the Zapera people fluently. Being selected as the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity has put the protection plan of Zapera culture on the agenda of the governments of Ecuador and Peru. In a conservation plan, the goal of reviving the Zapera language was determined, and it was proposed to protect the cultural heritage of the Zapera people, study and protect the original religion and traditional medicine of the Zapera people, consolidate the Zapera community, and enhance Specific measures such as exchanges between the Zaperas of Ecuador and Peru.