Quito, Ecuador: Independence Square

Most big cities have a central square, and Quito is no exception. Independence Square starts with a statue in the middle. This first cry for independence for the region came in 1809. The people there had lived under Spanish more or less continuously for close to 250 years, and some had enough at that point. The monument in the middle of the square is a tribute to those leaders. 

In 1822, that dream came true when some of the northern portion of South America to form the Republic of Gran Columbia. Ecuador itself was formed in 1830. 

The square essentially as a space for residents to collect water from a spring, but over the years it great in importance as a gathering place. The tourists love to walk around here, which means vendors of various products hang out here as well.