Quito celebrates 48 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Quito is celebrating 48 years since its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which occurred on September 8, 1978. The city is marking the anniversary with a variety of cultural activities, including free concerts, guided tours, and exhibitions throughout September.

A highlight of the celebrations is the “Sonidos de la Memoria” series, which aims to recover Quito’s musical heritage through performances of traditional genres such as pasillos and sanjuanitos. The Metropolitan Institute of Heritage (IMP) continues to manage the conservation, maintenance, and restoration of urban and rural heritage sites.

While the anniversary celebrates the city’s exceptional architectural, artistic, and archaeological value, it also brings attention to ongoing challenges. These include the preservation of historical assets and the decreasing number of residents living within the Historic Center. The city’s heritage is viewed as a broad spectrum encompassing not only buildings and plazas but also movable goods—such as approximately 20,000 pieces of art and textiles—and intangible cultural traditions.