Quito, formally known as San Francisco de Quito, is a capital city of Ecuador in South America. It belongs to the province of Pichincha and was founded on 1534. The city has an estimated population of nearly 1.4 million people (2001 Census). It is the second most populous city in Ecuador after Guayaquil. In 2008, the city was made the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations. The city is served by the Mariscal Sucre International Airport. Railroad transport is also available in the city it goes through the southern part of Quito. This transport service, however, is now mainly used for tourism purposes.

Since Quito is located a short 25km from the equator, a monument and a museum marks the general location. This is known locally as 'la mitad del mundo'. That translates into 'the middle of the earth'. It is named such in order to avoid confusion because the Spanish term for 'equator' is 'ecuador'.

Several churches located in Quito are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Centers. Some of the churches include the Cathedral de Quito, Church of the Society of Jesus, and the Basilica de Voto Nacional. The city is also peppered with parks that attract both local and tourist attention. These parks include Metropolitano, La Carolina, and La Alameda.

The city is home to some of Ecuador's top professional football clubs. These include Club Deportivo El Nacional and Club Deportivo ESPOLI. Some of Quito's sister cities include Madrid, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Louisville (Kentucky), and Krakow.