Ruta de huertos en edificaciones patrimoniales: una alternativa para el desarrollo del turismo cultural en el centro histórico de Cuenca

Abstract

This research project links nature, culture, gastronomy and tourism in the historic center of Cuenca. This location being the selected place to carry out the creation of a vegetable garden (huerto) route in historic buildings of Cuenca, as an alternative for the development of cultural tourism. To start, we will analyze the history and architecture of the Cañari, Colonial and Republican eras of the city of Cuenca. During these eras, huertos for the cultivation of plants for food for the family and natural medicine were popular. Nowadays these spaces are part of the living heritage of the city, and have become a cultural and invaluable tourist attraction. In the city of Cuenca, the huertos are vital spaces within its culture and cuisine, because of its special relation to the history, customs, traditions, festivals, legends and daily life of its inhabitants. Currently many of the spaces for huertos have become commercial places which has transformed the structure and functions inside the house. For this reason, it is important and relevant to creation a route of huertos in heritage buildings, which aims to raise public awareness about the importance of keeping alive these spaces inside the city.