Loja - Sentinal of the South

Loja is a city full of delights for the tourist, such as the colorful houses on Lourdes Street in San Sebastián visited by national and foreign tourists, alike. The colonial Old Town and the Cathedral are also noteworthy attractions. The Vírgen del Cisne is carried here during the international fair in September. Other churches worth a visit are San Francisco, San Agustín, Santo Domingo, San Sebastián, and Fátima. They all contain important religious works of art. The “Sentinel of the South”, as the locals call Loja, also has history, archaeology, art, and handicraft museums worth checking out. Jipiro Park, the University’s Botanical Gardens, and Conceptas monastery should also be visited.

El Cisne

The parish of El Cisne is located on a high hillside. Its main attraction is its Cathedral, which contains the late 16th century Vírgen del Cisne sculpture, venerated by thousands all over the country, many of whom flock to El Cisne in September for the annual festival. The sculpture of the Virgin, known as La Churona (the curly haired one) was carved by Diego de Robles, a famous artist during the colonial times. El Cisne also has a museum with relics, clothes, sacred ornaments, and souvenirs.