Parque Calderon is located in the heart of Cuenca and is the central square in the city’s 500-year-old checkerboard layout. It is, without a doubt, Cuenca’s showpiece.
In its center is a statue in honor of Abdon Calderon, for whom the plaza is named, and surrounding it are around 8 pines brought from Chile and planted by President Luis Cordero. It also features fountains, a gazebo, beautiful gardens and numerous benches. Those benches, by the way, are a perfect place to relax, enjoy an ice cream and people watch.
Across the streets surrounding the park are the tourist bureau, a tour bus, the municipal building, coffee and ice cream shops, restaurants, artisan markets, and the old and two cathedrals. There’s no way to miss the giant sky-blue domes of the iconic “New Cathedral” while standing in the park. They dominate the city’s skyline.
Parque Calderon is a beautiful park day and night. There is always something going on in this lovely setting.
You’re invited to tour this beautiful main plaza with us. But be forewarned: This is the first video where we’ve appeared onscreen. Yikes!
