Founded on July 25,1534 by Francisco de Orellana on the skirts of the Santa Ana hill, from which you can see the cannons positioned to defend the city from pirate attacks, Guayaquil is the capital of Guayas province and is the largest city in Ecuador as well as the main port.
The city was named after an Indigenous Chief, Guayas, and his wife, Quil who elected to die before surrendering to the Spaniards. The city, on the Guayas river, has had its share of ups and downs.
The civic buildings of the Municipal Palace and Government House face the Maleccon, the esplanade overlooking the gulf of Guayaquil and thee river Guayas, vital contributors to Ecuador's economy.
In recent years, the city has revamped, remodeled and beautified mny sections of the city.